ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship

About this scholarship

The ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship is the American Bar Association's law-school pipeline scholarship for incoming first-year law students who share the ABA's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The official page states that the program grants $15,000 of financial aid to 20 to 25 incoming law students over their three years in law school and has supported more than 400 students since inception. It is partial funding because the award is a fixed scholarship and does not cover the full cost of tuition, fees, housing, books, bar preparation, travel, or personal expenses. The 2027 scholarship cycle is forward-looking: applications open February 1, 2027 and close April 15, 2027. Applicants must be entering law school in academic year 2027, including part-time students who are also starting law school that year, and they must have at least a 2.5 cumulative undergraduate GPA at submission. Before receiving funds, recipients must show admission to and plans to enroll at an ABA-accredited law school.

Eligibility

• Be entering the first year of law school in academic year 2027
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
• Not have completed one or more semesters or years of law school
• Demonstrate admission to and plans to enroll at an ABA-accredited law school before funds are released
• Submit the online application by the ABA portal deadline