The law school is dedicated to the training of lawyers with uncompromising standards of excellence in service to their clients and society. Scholarships and awards have been established to recognize and support the men and women who make up our diverse community. Through the generosity of donors, the support of alumni, and the vision of the law faculty, a significant number of scholarships and prizes are available to students each year. Students who excel academically are recognized for their talents and achievements. Students with financial need are assisted with the inevitable costs of a legal education. Students committed to public service are given financial support and encouraged to follow their goals.
Scholarships for entering students
The law school is committed to making the cost of a legal education affordable to as many deserving students as possible. Awards range from several thousand dollars to the full-tuition awards made to Dean’s Fellows and University Fellows. Scholarship categories are as follows:
1. Dean’s Fellowships
These fellowships are awarded to a select group of exceptional scholars during the admissions process. Dean’s Fellows receive special recognition in addition to grants up to full tuition. To be considered for a fellowship, applicants must have their admissions files complete by February 1. Finalists for these awards will be determined through an on-campus interview process.
2. Public Interest and Social Justice Scholarships
These scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need, demonstrated commitment to public interest law, and professional potential. Each year, five $5,000 awards are given to entering students. Awards are renewable at that amount depending on financial need and continued commitment to public interest service. Accepted applicants seeking consideration for one of these scholarships are asked to submit a written statement reflecting their experiences in serving the community. In addition to these awards, the law school has established two scholarships for upper-division students who are actively involved in community service.
3. Law Faculty Scholarships
These scholarships are awarded to minority students, economically disadvantaged students, and students with special needs on the basis of financial need and professional promise. The number of scholarships varies from year to year. Scholarship amounts seldom exceed half tuition and more frequently range from $500 to several thousand dollars per year.
4. Emery Scholarships
These scholarships, provided by the law school, were originally contributed in 1956 by the Jesuit Fathers of the University in honor of James A. Emery, S. J. The scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement and professional promise. Awards to upper-division students are determined by law school performance. The number and the dollar amount of the awards vary from year to year. Most range from $1,000 to several thousand dollars per year. Generally, these scholarships are continued year to year if the student maintains a superior level of performance in law studies.
5. Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Scholarship
This scholarship was re-established in 2001 by a group of law alumni, current law students and law faculty, representing the diverse ethnic social groups that Justice Marshall worked diligently to protect throughout his career as a lawyer and a jurist. The scholarship is awarded to a first-year law student who has demonstrated commitment to equality, inclusion and social justice. In order to qualify for the scholarship, a student must:
a. be a first-year law student
b. have a demonstrated academic interest in equality, inclusion and social justice
c. have a record of community service, with a commitment to eliminating racial, social, and economic disadvantage in under-served communities
d. intend to pursue a legal career that advances equality and social justice
Scholarships for upper-division students
Most scholarships awarded to entering students are continued based on academic performance and financial need. Applications are requested for the following:
1. Law Alumni Board Scholarships
The purpose of the Law Alumni Board is “to create a sustaining relationship by and for the Santa Clara University Law School through mutually enriching activities for the benefit of the community.”
Part of this commitment to “benefit the community” includes a scholarship program. In general, scholarships are set at a minimum of $1,000 and given to second-, third-, or fourth-year law students who demonstrate commitment to the law school, participation in community activities, involvement in SCU student activities, and financial need. The scholarship recipients are chosen annually by the Alumni Association Board.
2. Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Scholar Award
Summer fellowships have been created to honor the work of U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. Substantial fellowships are awarded to outstanding students to support their summer work in public interest law projects. These awards are made following the first or second year of law school.
3. Women and Law Scholarship
The law school consistently ranks near the top in the nation as a school that supports and encourages women in the legal profession. In 1988, the Women and Law student organization established a scholarship to support this goal. The scholarship is available to students who participate in community service that is supportive of women’s issues and scholarship and/or research in this area.
See law.scu.edu/alumni/scholarships.cfm for more information on endowed funds, including
- The Becchetti/Yada Endowed Scholarship
- The Nancy and Ted Biagini Scholarship
- The John and Ethel Burnett Endowed Scholarship
- The Brien Thomas (B.T.) Collins “Captain Hook” Scholarship
- The Michael di Leonardo Memorial Scholarship
- The Dunlap/McAuvic Endowed Law Scholarship Fund
- The Russell W. Galloway Jr. Fund for Minority Scholarships
- The Fredrick Gonzalez and Leota Van DeVerre-Gonzalez Endowed Scholarship
- The Edwin and Florence Heafey Endowed Scholarship
- The Frank Hennessey Scholarship
- The Beatrice M. Hessen Memorial Scholarship
- The Daniel and Carole Kelly Endowed Scholarship
- The Joan Lamb Memorial Endowed Scholarship
- The Herman M. Levy Scholarship Fund
- The Irene and Roe A. Maier Scholarship
- The Bernice and Saul Manaster Scholarship Fund
- The McPhie Morgan Law Scholarship
- The Mabel T. Owens Endowed Law Scholarship
- The Stephen and Louise Pahl Endowed Scholarship Fund
- The Justice Edward Panelli Endowed Scholarship
- The Connie and Tony Ridder Family Endowed Scholarship Fund
- The Rosati Family Law Scholarship
- The Thomas E. Schatzel Scholarship
- The Ann Hannon Smith Law Scholarship
- The George A. Strong Memorial Scholarship
- The Walter V. Walsh Scholarship Fund
- The Richard and Dianne Watters Endowed Law Scholarship Fund