All admitted 1L students are considered for a Dean’s Scholarship. In determining the scholarship amount, both merit and financial need can be considered. Dean’s Scholarships may be awarded for all three years of the J.D. program and there is no need to reapply after your 1L year. No new applications are accepted in the 2L and 3L years.

Instructions for students entering their 1L year in Fall 2025 (students currently enrolled at UCLA School of Law should visit MyLaw):

Merit Component
Before we can determine your eligibility for merit, all admitted students must complete the Dean’s Scholarship Consideration Form, provided to you by the UCLA Law Admission’s Office. No additional application is needed for merit consideration.

Need Component
UCLA Law has a generous need component, providing significant assistance to domestic students with financial need. Each case is individually considered, but a student who qualifies for a Dean’s Scholarship, based on both merit and need, will generally receive a larger total gift award. If you are unsure whether you will qualify for a need award, we strongly encourage you to apply, even if you believe you will also qualify for a merit award.

Our awarding process for need-based scholarships takes into account both students' and their parents' financial resources. In order to help the law school’s Financial Aid Office estimate financial need, students must complete and the Law School Financial Need Application, which collects data about the family profile. The variables considered include family size, assets and income, among other things.

Application Instructions:

1. Determine if you must provide your parents’ information on the Need Application (see criteria below).
2. Complete the Law School Financial Need Application when it becomes available in mid-January.

• As part of the Need Application, admitted students and/or their parents are required to upload their 2023 Tax Return Transcripts (foreign transcripts/tax returns cannot be evaluated). In the rare case when a tax return transcript is not available, the school may accept a signed copy of the 2023 Federal Tax Return along with Schedules 1, 2 and 3, if applicable. Hard copies and emailed copies of tax documents will not be accepted. Please note that all Social Security Numbers (SSN) and any account information must be redacted on each tax transcript/tax return submitted.
   
• Students who did not file a 2023 U.S. federal tax return will need to upload a self-certified statement of non-filing to their UCLA Need Application. 
   
• Parents who did not file a 2023 U.S. federal tax return must upload an official IRS verification of non-filing. This verification documentation may be requested from the IRS by submitting form 4506-T. 

The determination of your financial-need award will only be possible once you have been admitted and the Law School Need Application have been completed.
 

Criteria for determining submission of parent information on the UCLA Law School Need Application:

Students must provide their parents' information on the Law School Need Application unless the student:

• will be 29 years of age or older by December 31 of the academic year for which he/she is applying
• can provide documentation that no one has claimed him/her on their tax returns for the last seven years
• has a dependent other than a spouse (i.e., a child) and provides more than 50% to their support
• is a veteran
• was considered as an independent by his/her undergraduate institution through dependency override, and not based on age or marital status. (Documentation required.)

Students who do not fit the above criteria and do not provide parents' information on the Need Application or do not upload the required tax documents will not be considered for a need award.

 

UCLA Law's donor-supported program consists of numerous endowments and scholarships funded by alumni and friends of the school, as well as law firms in our community. Consideration for student eligibility for these scholarships will take place during the admission process.

Tax and Business Law Scholarships (TABLS)

UCLA Law and the Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy (LMI) annually award four scholarships to students who are interested in tax and business law and policy. These scholarships are part of LMI’s Tax and Business Law Scholarship (“TABLS”) Program. The Program is led by Jim Barrall ’75, a Senior Fellow in Residence at LMI and a retired partner of Latham & Watkins LLP.

Read more

A. Barry Cappello Scholarship in Trial Advocacy

Cappello Scholarships, sponsored by program namesake A. Barry Cappello, provide financial awards to admitted students with a history of success and interest in trial advocacy. The Irving H. Green Prize, named for the successful Los Angeles trial lawyer, is awarded annually to the graduating students who have demonstrated excellence in trial advocacy.  This financial support is another way that UCLA’s commitment to trial advocacy is virtually unique among top-tier law schools. 

For more information, contact Justin Bernstein, Director of A. Barry Cappello Program in Trial Advocacy.

Chris Cornell Memorial Human Rights Scholarship

This scholarship is designed for students who have a background in and demonstrated commitment to international human rights. Students who express an interest in human rights law on their application will be automatically considered for this award. For more information, email Associate Director of Admissions Danae McElroy at mcelroy@law.ucla.edu.

The University of California Native American Opportunity Plan ensures that in-state systemwide mandatory tuition and fees are fully covered for California residents who are members of federally recognized Native American, American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. In addition, the Law School will also cover Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition for NAOP eligible students beginning with the class starting in fall 2024.  

Eligibility

To be eligible for this award, students must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Newly admitted or a current law school student
2. California resident
3. Enrolled member in a federally recognized Native American, American Indian and/or Alaska Native tribe
4. Enrolled in a state-supported UC degree program (i.e., students in self-supporting and certificate programs do not qualify)

If you are a member of a tribe that is not federally recognized, additional support may be available through external organizations, including the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Scholarship Fund.

Documentation Requirements

Students should file a FAFSA, but no additional application is required.

Students who are potentially eligible must submit tribal enrollment documentation from their federally recognized tribe or the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).  Documentation may include any of the following:

• Certification of tribal enrollment on tribal letterhead
• Enrollment/membership card that contains the tribal seal and/or official signature of a tribal leader
• Certification of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) if the CDIB includes tribal enrollment information
• Tribal identification card with an enrollment number

Students must also submit tribal contact information (address, phone, email) if it is not evident on submitted documentation.

In June, the law school Financial Aid Office we reach out to NAOP potential candidates with documentation submission instructions.

NAOP Award Amount

For eligible students, the Native American Opportunity Plan will fully cover UC systemwide tuition ($13,140), and Student Services Fees ($1,290) and the Law School will fully cover Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition ($45,944).  The maximum combined NAOP and Law School PDST award for the 2025-26 academic year is $60,374.

If you are already receiving gift aid (law school merit, need, and/or a donor-based scholarship, GOFP), veteran’s tuition benefits and/or external scholarships that are tuition specific and the total of your gift aid is equal to or more than your UC systemwide tuition, Student Services Fees and Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition, then the Native American Opportunity Plan promise has been satisfied.  However, if your law school gift aid does not fully cover UC systemwide fees, Student Services Fees, and Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition, your Native American Opportunity Plan will cover the difference with additional funding. 

Examples:

1. Your gift aid is $61,000.  The Native American Opportunity Plan promise has been satisfied as your gift aid is greater than the NAOP award. 
2. Your gift aid is $20,000.  You would receive an additional aid amount of $40,374 under the Native American Opportunity Plan.
    

The tuition, fees and awards listed here are estimates based on existing amounts. These figures may not be final. Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change and could be affected by state funding reductions.  

UCLA School of Law receives notices and information about various scholarships, fellowships and writing competitions sponsored by foundations, alumni associations, bar associations, etc. The Financial Aid Office will post applicable notices on this page or our intranet site as received. Please note that the posting of these scholarships does not imply endorsement of any organization and/or scholarship.

Outside scholarship checks should be sent to UCLA’s Payment Solutions and Compliance office. The checks should be made out to the UC Regents and contain the student’s name and University ID on the check/accompanying paperwork. The address is:

UCLA Payment Solutions & Compliance
Box 957089, 1125 Murphy Hall
405 Hilgard Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90095-7089

 

Deadline: April 2, 2025
FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP
Attorney David Kadzai appreciates the resilience and hard work it takes to become a first-generation college student. The journey of becoming the first person in your family to attend university is often filled with intimidating challenges and difficult circumstances. Attorney Kadzai hopes to alleviate some of the stress and difficulty of this journey by offering financial assistance to students. His law firm established this $2,500 scholarship to make higher education more attainable for those who are embarking on this journey.

Deadline: April 2, 2025
UPLIFTING COMMUNITIESSCHOLARSHIP
The Uplifting Communities Scholarship, offered by The Law Office of Donald L. Bell, provides a $1,500 award to support individuals dedicated to uplifting underserved communities. This scholarship is available to both undergraduate and graduate students of any major. The funds can be used for essential educational expenses, including tuition fees, textbooks, and course materials.

Deadline: April 5, 2025
ENERGY & MINERAL LAW FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS
The Energy & Mineral Law Foundation Scholarships are awarded to students pursuing careers in energy and mineral law. These scholarships are designed to support students with an interest in the legal aspects of energy, natural resources, and environmental law. Eligible applicants typically include law students who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to these fields. The scholarships aim to encourage the development of future professionals in the energy and mineral sectors. The scholarship can gift up to $5000 in aid.

Deadline: April 15, 2025
FEDERAL CIRCUIT BAR ASSOCIATION BOARD SCHOLARSHIP
The Federal Circuit Bar Association Board Scholarship is awarded to law students who demonstrate an interest in intellectual property law, particularly as it pertains to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The scholarship aims to support students pursuing careers in this field by providing financial assistance. Eligible applicants typically need to show academic excellence, a strong interest in Federal Circuit law, and a commitment to contributing to the legal community. Students chosen for the scholarship will be gifted up to $10,000.

Deadline: May1, 2025
RICE, MURTHA & PSORA SCHOLARSHIP
Rice, Murtha & Psoras is offering a scholarship program for students pursuing higher education. The scholarship is designed to assist individuals with their educational expenses. To apply, students must submit an essay addressing a specific legal topic. The scholarship aims to support students dedicated to academic excellence and those planning to contribute positively to their communities. Scholarship gifts to $1500 in aid for accepted students

Deadline: May 30, 2025
INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE SCHOLARSHIP
Speights Law plans to award its “Invest in Your Future” Scholarship to a deserving student preparing for their financial future. Students from diverse fields of study are encouraged to apply for the $2,500 award. 

Deadline: May 20. 2025
AMARILLO AREA BAR FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP
The Amarillo Area Bar Foundation offers $2,500 scholarships to students attending law school during the fall and spring semesters. Applicants must have been born in, raised in, or currently reside in one of the 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle.

 

Deadline: May 30, 2025
COMMUNITY LEADER SCHOLARSHIP
Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard was proud to debut the firm’s Community Leader Scholarship. This scholarship asks today’s students to define service and leadership in relationship to in-need communities. The scholarship promises its winning student $2,500 in financial aid. Students have until May 30, 2025, to submit their application to Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard’s scholarship selection committee.

Deadline: May 30, 2025
ASPIRING PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER LAW STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP
Mattiacci Law is dedicated to empowering aspiring personal injury lawyers in their pursuit of excellence in the legal field. We are thrilled to introduce the “Aspiring Personal Injury Lawyer Law Student Scholarship,” a prestigious award valued at $2,500. This scholarship aims to extend financial support to law students who have a genuine passion for becoming personal injury lawyers and are committed to making a positive impact in this area of law. Our goal is to assist future legal professionals in overcoming potential challenges they may face during their academic journey.

Deadline: May 31, 2025
ROSEN INJURY ASPIRING PERSONAL INJURY LAW STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP
Rosen Injury Law is thrilled to present an incredible opportunity for aspiring personal injury attorneys in the field of law! We are pleased to offer the Rosen Injury Law Aspiring Personal Injury Lawyer, Student Scholarship, a financial aid program worth $2,500. This scholarship aims to assist ambitious law students who have a strong desire to become a personal injury lawyer upon graduating. We understand the challenges that may arise during the journey of becoming a legal professional, and we are committed to helping future lawyers overcome those obstacles.

Deadline: May 31, 2025
KATZMAN LAMPERT & STOLL AVIATION LAW SCHOLARSHIP
The aviation law firm of Katzman Lampert & Stoll is deeply interested in helping students who have an interest in aviation focused law to receive a quality legal education and pursue the career they desire, in spite of any financial challenges they may face. The awarded students will receive a $2000 One-Time Scholarship.

Deadline: May 31, 2025
THE C&B LAW FUTURE LEGAL LEADERS SCHOLARSHIP
At C&B Law Group, we believe in the future, and that it starts in our own communities. The Los Angeles area is filled with rich history and pride among its residents. We know that within each neighborhood, there are students passionate about various causes that will shape LA for generations to come. The selected recipient will be awarded $1,500 to help advance their legal education.

Deadline: June 1,2025
ANNUAL HARRIS LOWRY MANTON LLP CIVIL JUSTICE SCHOLARSHIP
The Annual Harris Lowry Manton LLP Civil Justice Scholarship is designed to support students pursuing a career in civil justice, particularly those who are dedicated to serving justice and advocating for individuals' rights. It will be available to law students who have a strong academic background and demonstrate a commitment to upholding the principles of civil justice. Students awarded this scholarship will be gifted up to $5000 in aid.

Deadline: June 3, 2025
TERRY BRYANT LAW SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP
America’s next generation of attorneys will represent people facing life’s biggest challenges, often against odds that seem insurmountable. We want to help one of these future advocates achieve their goal of becoming an attorney. The $2,500 Terry Bryant law school scholarship will be awarded to a future or current law student pursuing their JD who can effectively and creatively tell us why they strive to become an attorney. 

Deadline: June 15th, 2025
THE STUCKEY FIRM SCHOLARSHIP
The Stuckey Firm Scholarship asks students to think critically about a jury’s influence on injury cases. We want students to create videos detailing their opinions on whether injury cases’ juries should be larger or more restricted. Beginning in 2024/2025, current and incoming college students may apply for the firm’s $2,500 scholarship.

Deadline: June 15, 2025
JENNER LAW MAKE A DIFFERENCE SCHOLARSHIP
Jenner Law is proud to support the next generation of change-makers through our Make a Difference Scholarship! Each year, we award two $2,500 scholarships—one to an outstanding undergraduate student and one to a graduate student—who exemplify academic excellence, a proven commitment to social justice, and a clear vision of how his or her education will create meaningful change in the world.  This scholarship recognizes those who don’t just aspire to make a difference but have already taken meaningful steps to do so.

Deadline: July 1, 2025
THE FINNEY INJURY LAW SCHOLARSHIP
The Finney Injury Law Scholarship empowers students to pursue their educational dreams. Cost, support, and guidance are often barriers preventing smart and driven individuals from seeking higher education. Our scholarship will help deserving students overcome those barriers, accomplish their educational goals, and prepare for a future in law. Two (2) individual $10,000 scholarship awards to be used towards tuition, books, housing, or LSAT course reimbursement.

Deadline: July 1, 2025
LAW SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP FOR VETERANS
Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD awards an annual $1,500 scholarship to a deserving veteran enrolled in or accepted to a U.S. law school. Veterans of all branches of the U.S. military are eligible to apply (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard).

Deadline: July 26, 2025
SUTLIFF & STOUT LAW SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST
The Sutliff & Stout Injury and Accident Law Firm is guided by the idea that everyone is entitled to high-quality legal representation, regardless of wealth or social status. In an effort to enable more students who have a passion for law to be able to pursue that passion, our Houston car accident attorneys are offering an annual scholarship contest which will award a law student with a $1,500 award to be put toward his or her law school costs.

Deadline: August 4, 2025
ALFORD LAW PLLC STUDENTS IN NEEDSCHOLARSHIP
The Alford Law PLLC Student in Need Scholarship is designed to assist students facing financial challenges in their pursuit of higher education. The scholarship aims to support students who demonstrate a strong academic record, financial need, and a commitment to achieving their educational and career goals. Scholarship gifts students $2000 in aid.

Deadline: August 15, 2025
CHAMPION THE CAUSE LAW SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP
O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble is pleased to announce our Annual Graduate School Scholarship. This $1,500 scholarship is open to law students attending or planning to attend law school in the United States. Scholarship money will go directly to the winner’s school and can cover school-related expenses.

Deadline: August 31, 2025
GERALD MILLER ASPIRING CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER LAW STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP
Gerald Miller PA. Is again thrilled to offer a $2500 scholarship to support law students who aspire to become criminal defense Lawyers. The purpose of The Aspiring Criminal Defense Lawyer Law Student Scholarship Is twofold. First to provide financial assistance to alleviate some of cost in attending law school and second to validate the law school students goals and aspirations of becoming a Criminal Defense lawyer.

Deadline: September 15, 2025
FUTURE LAWYERS SCHOLARSHIP
Having dedicated our lives to the legal profession, the attorneys with Andrew Cores Family Law Group are excited to assist law students with expenses related to their college education. Each semester, the firm is offering an aspiring or current law student the opportunity to win $2,000 through the Andrew Cores Family Law Group Future Lawyers Scholarship.

Deadline: Varies Depending on Scholarship
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS FOR YOUNG LAWYERS AND LAW STUDENTS
We know every little bit helps when you’re trying to pay for law school. That’s why several ABA groups offer scholarships for law students. Scholarship amounts vary.

Deadline: See website
GLORIA BARRON WILDERNESS SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP
The Gloria Barron Wilderness Society Scholarship seeks to encourage individuals who have the potential to make a significant positive difference in understanding wilderness and how to protect it. The scholarship is available to current qualified graduate students. It was created in honor of Gloria Barron, a dedicated educator and tireless advocate for wilderness protection. Two separate awards of $25,000 each will be given to two graduate students to support their research and preparation of a paper on an aspect of wilderness.

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Attention Scholarship Donors: All submitted scholarship offers are reviewed, and if a scholarship is deemed as a possible good fit for our student population the offer will be posted on either our intranet (students only) or our external website. Due to the volume of requests, we are unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding the posting of scholarships.

A number of students each year receive non-university scholarships from a variety of organizations, agencies, companies and private individuals. These are not administered by UCLA Law. Criteria may include academic achievement, special talent, leadership ability, and group affiliation. UCLA Law makes information available to students concerning outside scholarship opportunities as it becomes available. You can also view these useful links to gain access to outside scholarship search engines:

• Big Future by The College Board
• Federal Student Aid – Scholarship Search
• Sallie Mae's Scholarship Search
• Wells Fargo Scholarship Search
• AccessLex Law School Scholarship Databank

Private loans are offered by lenders independently of the Department of Education. Private loans are best utilized only if eligibility for Federal Direct Loans has been exhausted. Private loans are not guaranteed by the federal government. These loans are based on credit and their terms vary based on the lender, from whom you borrow as well as on your (and, if required cosigner’s) credit-worthiness.

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Credit-Based Private Loans

Federal student loans are available to most students regardless of income and provide a range of repayment options, including income-based repayment plans and loan forgiveness benefits, which other education loans are not required to provide.

Some students find it necessary to finance a portion of their education through private loan sources. These lenders offer loans to offset the cost of attending law school. The loan terms are printed directly on the application and also are governed by federal and state lending regulations. The choice of lender rests solely with the student, but he/she will need to meet the lender’s credit requirements. Please see UCLA's Preferred Lender List and Code of Conduct – Preferred Lenders.

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Bar Loans

Law students may apply for Bar Loans for the period after graduation when they are studying for the bar. A Bar loan is an unsecured consumer loan offered to graduating law school students to assist with expenses related to the bar process. These related expenses may include the following: bar examination fees, bar review courses, and living expenses during the period after graduation and prior to being notified of the exam results.

Bar Loan interest rates are generally higher than those of federal and private loans. Students should review the product guidelines and repayment options before applying. See UCLA’s Preferred Lenders List for a list of Bar Loan lenders.

Please note: For graduates needing to obtain a Bar Loan after graduation, when using UCLA’s Preferred Lender List (ELM Select), please indicate that your graduation date will be in the future in order to obtain a potential list of lenders that offer this product.

Earned Aid includes job opportunities for students wishing to reduce loan indebtedness such as UCLA Teaching and Research Assistantships, Summer Public Interest Fellowships.

Teaching Assistantships

Through UCLA’s Graduate Division, advanced graduate and professional students have an excellent opportunity to gain practical teaching and tutoring experience in departments outside of the law school while earning an income to offset the cost of their tuition and fees. In-state students who are employed 45 percent or more are entitled to a fee remission of 75 percent of the Education Fee, a fee remission of 75 percent of the Registration Fee, and a fee remission of 100 percent of the Graduate Student Health Insurance Plan. These fee remissions significantly reduce the student’s out-of-pocket expenses for the academic year. This reduction may, in turn, affect a student’s total loan eligibility.

For more information and to obtain an application, please visit the Graduate Division website.

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Summer Public Service Fellowships

Through an array of funding sources, UCLA School of Law provides stipends to first-and second-year students who engage in otherwise unpaid summer internships with nonprofit organizations or government agencies (judicial externships are not categorized as internships with government agencies). The application process begins in the spring semester, and students with eligible positions must submit an application in order to be considered for this Fellowship. In summer 2020, UCLA School of Law funded approximately 250 students.

• FAFSA
• Federal Student Aid Info
• National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)
• ​Debt Management Session (Entrance Loan Counseling)
• Graduate Division
• Residency Requirements
• Free Credit Report
• MAX by AccessLex

UCLA School of Law offers a robust Loan Repayment Assistance Program commonly referred to as LRAP.  This program can provide financial support for recent J.D. graduates employed in public interest or public service settings, where salaries are significantly lower than in the private sector. Graduates may participate in the Program for up to 10 years.

Through LRAP, UCLA Law has in the past decade covered roughly $4.5 million in student loan payments for J.D. graduates who work in public interest jobs, government positions or judicial clerkships.

Under UCLA Law School’s LRAP guidelines, effective January 2025, alumni with incomes up to $80,000 may have their entire eligible loan payments fully covered. Applicants with incomes up to $120,000 may now receive partial assistance.

“Student loans are one of the biggest barriers for law students who want to pursue public interest careers,” says Brad Sears, UCLA Law’s associate dean of public interest law. “The support that LRAP provides helps bridge that gap and allows the full diversity of our student body to pursue public interest careers, including students who carry a significant amount of student loan debt.”

To qualify for LRAP, a graduate must meet the LRAP guidelines which include working for a nonprofit organization, a clerkship or an agency of government in law-related employment that makes substantial use of legal skills.  Because most educational loans offer a six-month grace period following graduation, graduates going directly into qualifying employment will usually receive their first LRAP loan approximately six months after graduation.

Kia Hayes ’13, a staff attorney at the Innocence Project New Orleans, says that she could not afford to pursue her career without UCLA Law’s LRAP.:

“I came to UCLA Law because I wanted to dedicate my professional life to criminal and racial justice,” says Hayes, who has helped win the freedom of five men who were imprisoned after being wrongly convicted. “I would not be able to do this work were it not for LRAP. I relied on student loans to cover nearly all my tuition, and I would not be able to cover my monthly loan payments without LRAP.”

The School of Law’s Public Service Fellowship Program seeks to support graduating students who have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to public service, enabling them to work with a variety of nonprofit organizations and government agencies, both domestically and abroad.

Through the Professional Opportunity Program, UCLA Law and Liberty Hill Foundation have partnered to set up a one year fellowship to allow successful candidates the opportunity to work full-time for up to one year with nonprofit organizations, government agencies or judges. Participants are paid monthly stipends.

The New Graduate Opportunity Program funds part-time, temporary work with nonprofit organizations and government agencies for up to 200 hours at up to 20 hours per week. Participants are paid by UCLA School of Law - therefore negating any employer concerns regarding unpaid interns - and  have a unique opportunity to further build their resume and to enhance their legal skills while awaiting bar results. Although participating employers are not required to permanently hire these graduates, many host employers have offered our graduates long-term employment at the conclusion of the program.