51²è¹Ý

Law School Scholarships

Law School Scholarships are to be used for tuition only. The total amount of all scholarships in any year cannot exceed your tuition charges. If you receive outside assistance that exceeds your tuition charges, we must adjust your 51²è¹Ý Law scholarship assistance.

Diversity Scholarships

Ruth-Arlene W. Howe Black Student Leadership Program (current students)Ìý

As the first African-American female faculty member to achieve tenure and the rank of full professor, Ruth-Arlene W. Howe first arrived at 51²è¹Ý Law as a student in 1970. More than 50 years later, her hard work, passion, and commitment to diversity and social justice as a student, alumna, and faculty member have helped shape 51²è¹Ý Law into what it is today.

The Ruth-Arlene W. Howe Black Student Leadership Program brings together current students and alumni, in collaboration with the Black Alumni Network (BAN) of Boston College Law School, who have demonstrated a commitment to the Black/African descent community at the law school and/or underrepresented communities. Ìý

Scholars are chosen on the basis of commitment to promote Black/African descent community engagement, demonstrated leadership, academic achievement and contribution to the educational mission of the law school.

The program will award two $5,000 scholarships to current students. This is a one-time award.

Merit Scholarships

We consider all admitted students for our merit-based scholarships, which we award based on the information in your admission application. Notification of merit scholarship awards begins in February and continues on an ongoing basis throughout the spring.

Public Service Scholarships

We award full-tuition Public Service Scholarships to highly qualified applicants committed to practicing public service law after graduation. A committee appointed by the Dean selects recipients, and Public Service Scholarship applications are included in the J.D. application.

The committee uses the following criteria for evaluating applicants:

• Demonstrated commitment to serve the public through employment, advocacy, or volunteer activities
• Stated intent to pursue a career in public service or public interest law
  
• Evidence of leadership ability; and
• Past academic performance and evidence of exceptional academic promise

Ìý

You must have at least nine months of full-time professional experienceÌýin public service prior to the start of law school. Internships, co-ops, and similar experiences completed while you were enrolled in a degree program do not qualify.ÌýApplicants for this scholarship must also submit an additional essay that speaks to their past experiences in public service. Furthermore, an additional letter of recommendation specific to this scholarship is required. More informationÌýregarding these requirements may be found in the application.

Finalists for the Public Service Scholarships must be available for in-person, video or phone interviews. These scholarships are renewable for 2L and 3L years.

Applicants who have not yet been accepted for admission will be considered on a rolling basis after they are admitted only if the Committee has not yet awarded all scholarships at the time of their acceptance. Late scholarship applications may be considered if all Public Service Scholars have not yet been awarded.

Employment Requirements

Public Service Scholars must work for government or public interest organizations during both of their law school summers and after graduation.

Three categories of employers qualify as public interest organizations:

• Organizations that provide direct legal services to clients who are indigent and/or members of traditionally underrepresented groups
• Private, non-profit employers
• State, municipal or federal government

Exceptions to this policy are considered in extraordinary circumstances and must be authorized by the Committee.

Public Service Scholarship recipients must sign a statement acknowledging their intention to enter a career in public service and their moral obligation to repay 51²è¹Ý Law the pro-rated value of the scholarship if the minimum, five-year commitment to working in public service after graduation is compromised. Public Service Scholars who work fewer than five years in public service are expected to repay the scholarship for the remaining years of their commitment.

Other Requirements

Recipients must reapply each year for the award. The Committee requires an updated resume and list of activities, including summer work (either paid or volunteer) that demonstrates the recipient's continued commitment to public service and public interest law. Public Service Scholars will be required to provide new commitment letters before the beginning of each fall semester.

Public Service Scholars are expected to take a substantial leadership role in the 51²è¹Ý Law public interest community. Activities that fulfill this expectation include:

• Helping to develop and run the annual Public Interest Law Retreat
• Providing substantial support or assuming a leadership role with our Public Interest Law Foundation, Pro Bono Board, or other public interest organizations as appropriate
• Offering significant programming and communications suport promoting public service at 51²è¹Ý Law