External Scholarships
External foundations, nonprofits, law firms, and networking groups support scholarships for students to help finance their legal education. Our financial aid team regularly receives information about these law school scholarships and is ready to help you find the best opportunities.
Current External Scholarships
Organizations, groups, and nonprofits occasionally contact California Western with information about scholarships their agencies offer. While this is not an exhaustive list, the following are some of the scholarships currently being offered:
AccessLex Law School Scholarship Databank
The AccessLex Institute® invites you to utilize their newest tool to find money that’s already available to help pay for law school and lower your student loan burdens. Search over 800 carefully curated and vetted scholarship opportunities and writing competitions, with filters to help you find the ones best suited for you.
ChangeLawyers’ Next Gen Scholars Program
Application opens January 28, 2026. California ChangeLawyers is proud to launch the Next Gen Scholars Program. Beginning in 2026, ChangeLawyers will welcome a small cohort of Next Gen Scholars, 5 to 10 (Fall 2026) first-year law students across California, who demonstrate a deep commitment to serving California communities, have overcome significant barriers, and seek to harness their power for good. Each Scholar will receive direct funding of $50,000, as well as leadership development programming throughout their law school journey and beyond.
NAPABA Judicial Council Internship
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Judicial Council will offer four summer internship opportunities with its members and an accompanying $1,500 scholarship stipend. Each full-time internship will last approximately 4-10 weeks, with precise details to be arranged between the selected intern and assigned judge. Application deadline is January 15, 2026.
Justice Hollis G. Best Scholarship
As a memorial to the late Presiding Justice Hollis G. Best, his friends have established a scholarship to encourage and support outstanding academic achievement and commitment to service by law students. The Best Scholarship is presented this year in the amount of $2,000; more than one scholarship may be awarded. Primary considerations are academic achievement and the breadth and depth of the applicant’s extracurricular and community activities. Financial need and demonstrated leadership capabilities are also taken into consideration. Completed applications must be received by January 15, 2026.
JABA Educational Foundation Scholarships
The Japanese American Bar Association Educational Foundation (JEF) is pleased to offer up to four scholarships in the amount of $3,000 each. The scholarships are open to current law students and recent law school graduates with a connection to the Japanese American and/or API community who have a demonstrated commitment to community service. Additional factors may include financial need, adversity, academic achievement, leadership, service to the Japanese American and/or API community, and past/present/potential future involvement with JABA and/or JABA Educational Foundation (JEF). Prior applicants are encouraged to re-apply if not previously selected. The deadline to apply is January 18, 2026.
First Amendment Scholars Essay Competition
The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) is excited to announce the 2026 First Amendment Scholars Diane and Stephen Uhl Memorial Essay Competition for Law School Students, with a top prize of $4,000! FFRF is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters of nontheism. Essay topic: Analyze how the principle of “parental rights” has changed. Word limit: 1,500 words. FFRF will award cash prizes to the top three essayists ($4,000, $3,000, $2,000) and $500 honorable mentions at judges’ discretion. There is also a publication opportunity for the winners. The deadline for entry is January 30, 2026.
Lawyers’ Mutual/ Daily Journal First-Generation Student Scholarship
The aim of the Lawyers’ Mutual/ Daily Journal First-Generation Student Scholarship is to provide support to law school students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education and a legal career. The Law Student Scholarships aim to help promote a more inclusive legal community by bridging the opportunity gap typically not afforded to first-generation students who may not have had the same resources and/or opportunities as others. A $5,000 first place scholarship, $2,500 second place scholarship, $1,500 third place scholarship, and (7) $500 honorees are made available to a law student attending any accredited law school in the state of California. Submission deadline is February 1, 2026.
NLF Community Law Fellowship
The NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF) Community Law Fellowship Program was launched in 2004 to address the need for attorneys working on behalf of the Asian Pacific American populations. Candidates must be a third-year law student, recent law school graduate, or a recent judicial clerk or non-public interest fellow with a demonstrated commitment to public interest law and Asian Pacific American issues. The NLF Community Law Fellowship Program is a two-year public interest program for new attorneys, which runs from September 2026 through August 2028, and provides funding for a salary of $60,000 per year with a $10,000 payment to the Fellow upon completion of the Fellowship. Applications are due by February 15, 2026, at 5:00 pm ET.
Future Defense Lawyer Scholarship
The Bowman and Brooke Future Defense Lawyer Scholarship assists current first year (1L) law students who plan to continue their full-time enrollment at an ABA-accredited law school for their second (2L) academic year, who possess a demonstrated interest in representing defendants in civil litigation matters, and demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion. Up to two (2) award recipients will be selected to receive a $10,000 award. The deadline is February 26, 2026, at 3:00 pm CT.
Supporting Prisoners' Families Scholarship
The Pullan & Young Supporting Prisoners’ Families Scholarship was established to help students who have loved ones who have been convicted of criminal offenses. Pullan & Young believe that every student should have access to an education, regardless of their circumstances, and the goal is to help make college more accessible and affordable for those affected by incarceration in their family. This $1000 scholarship will be awarded to one student per semester. The deadline for the Spring 2026 scholarship is March 11, 2026.
USLAW NETWORK Foundation Law School Scholarship
The scholarship program supports eligible law students who have financial need and a demonstrated commitment to serving their communities as they pursue their academic and professional goals. Each recipient will receive a $5,000 scholarship toward law school tuition and an invitation to attend the 2026 USLAW NETWORK Annual Client Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, in September. The program’s scholarship selection committee will select and recognize 12 recipients. Applicants must submit a completed application and all requested support materials on or before March 20, 2026.
Han C. Choi Scholarship
The NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF) has partnered with the Choi Family to create the Han C. Choi Scholarship, to honor a NAPABA Trailblazer, mentor and leader, who embodies grit and courage in the face of great adversity. The Scholarship Fund will benefit a 1L or 2L law student who exhibits academic excellence, leadership, volunteerism, mentorship experience, and demonstrates an interest in AAPI civic issues. In addition to a $5,000 award, the winner of the Han C. Choi Scholarship will be provided with mentorship assistance to support the student's career development. Apply by March 20, 2026, 5:00 pm ET.
Fred T. Korematsu Summer Fellowship
In partnership with the Fred T. Korematsu Institute, NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF) will be accepting applications for the Fred T. Korematsu Summer Fellowship Program. The program will provide $6,000 to a law student for a meaningful summer internship at a public interest organization. The Fellowship is open to all rising 2L and 3L law students. Candidates should have a history of civil rights activism, interest in pursuing a civil rights career, strong academics and, like Fred T. Korematsu, strength of character and moral commitment. Applications are due March 20, 2026, 5:00 pm ET.
James E. Beckley Law Student Scholarship
The Public Investors Advocate Bar Association (PIABA) is proud to sponsor the James E. Beckley Law Student Scholarship Contest. This focused law student scholarship provides essential backing for students dedicated to investor rights. The PIABA will pay over $3,000 in awards to law students with prizes at $1,500, $1,000, and $750 for the top three entrants. The PIABA Bar Journal will publish the first-place paper and, in the past years, has also made offers to publish other papers from the contest. Papers must be submitted by Friday, March 27, 2026.
SAIL Scholarship
The SAIL Scholarship program provides financial assistance and an ongoing program of mentoring, networking, support and leadership development for rising second year law students. Each recipient is also eligible to receive a $7,500 grant, split equally over 2 years to help fund their educational expenses. Applicants will be evaluated for (a) academic excellence in their undergraduate school years and first year of law school, (b) leadership experience, (c) volunteerism or service in the public interest, (d) knowledge of social and cultural issues of any one or more AAPI communities or commitment to making a significant impact on issues affecting one or more AAPI communities, or both, and (e) commitment to “pay it forward.” Applicants must submit all application materials online via the NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF) website by June 30, 2026, at 5:00 pm ET.
Law School Scholarship Contest
Andrew Flusche of Flusche & Fitzgerald wants to hear about why you want to become a lawyer. What inspired you to enter into such a challenging profession. More importantly, how you will make a difference in the community as you progress through your legal career. One winner will be selected and awarded $1,000 to put towards their law school tuition. The deadline for submission is July 30, 2026.
Financial Aid Office
The Financial Aid Office is here to help you navigate the financial aid process. If you require assistance or have questions about external scholarships, please contact our office.