Iowa Law Scholarships and Fellowships
All students admitted to the College of Law who apply for financial aid through the FAFSA process, including submitting the appropriate supporting documents, are automatically considered for the following scholarships and fellowships. A separate application is not required. Recipients are notified by letter.
- Need-Based Scholarships: Awards may range from $500 to full resident tuition.
- Merit Scholarships and Fellowships: These awards are based on academic achievement. Awards range from $500 to full resident tuition, with a research-assistantship component in upper-level years. Renewal for the second- and third-year for some merit scholarships and fellowships requires maintenance of a specified class rank, usually the top 37.5 percent. That percentage increases, if necessary, to ensure that it is possible for all recipients to retain their awards. Specific retention information is provided to recipients each year.
- UI Law Foundation Scholarships: Includes scholarships that are merit based, need based, and a combination of need and merit. These scholarships are awarded to a limited number of students who meet the criteria established by the scholarship donors, as funds are available. Awards may range from $200 to full resident tuition.
- Law Opportunity Fellowships: The College of Law is committed to affording opportunity for a legal career to persons historically underrepresented in the legal profession. Among the criteria considered in awarding the fellowships are educationally and/or socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, leadership potential and academic merit. Awards may be up to full nonresident tuition for three years and the opportunity to hold a research assistant position for the second and third years.
Public Interest Grants and Scholarships
- Equal Justice Foundation (EJF) Summer Stipends—The Equal Justice Foundation (EJF) summer stipend program has been in existence for more than 15 years. This summer stipend program is intended to help current students contribute their time and legal skills in their summer breaks to people who normally would not have access to legal advocacy. The Iowa Law School Foundation matches the funds raised each year by the EJF students through book sales, a law school auction, a chili cook-off and LawLawPalooza. The selection process and applications are handled by EJF.
- Public Interest Summer Internship Class of 1998 Fund [pdf]—The Public Interest Summer Internship Class of 1998 Fund was established by the Class of 1998 to support students who pursue summer internships at public interest organizations. Recipients must be currently enrolled law students and must demonstrate procurement of summer employment in public interest law, an area that includes Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) entities, government agencies, and advocacy groups. Projected summer employment compensation must be either low or unpaid. The applicant’s level of need and the intensity of commitment to public interest law are the primary criteria for selection. Academic achievement will not be considered a factor. A committee of faculty and staff selects recipients.
- Public Interest Law Award [pdf]—The Public Interest Law Award was established in 1988 by the classes of 1987 and 1988 to honor and support law school graduates who choose to enter the field of public interest law. Eligible recipients must have more than $5,000 in student loan debt and demonstrate the procurement of employment in public interest law, an area that includes but is not limited to legal assistance groups, public defenders offices, special interest and minority group advocates, and civil liberties unions. The recipient's starting and projected average annual salary derived from the employment described above must be less than 125 percent of the "standard maintenance allowance (SMA)." The 125 percent of the SMA for non-high cost areas for 2006 is $41,648 and for high cost areas is $47,989. Recipients are selected by a committee comprised of a member of the establishing class, faculty and staff. Applications are made the summer after graduation.
- Iowa Law Foundation Public Interest Law Grant [pdf]—To encourage and support students engaged in public interest legal work, in 1995 the Iowa Law Foundation Board, at the recommendation of students and faculty, agreed that $20,000 of annual spendable earnings from non-restricted endowed scholarship accounts be awarded in the form of grants to 3-5 third-year students. The recipients must have demonstrated a commitment to pursuing public interest work and have substantial indebtedness from student loans. If a recipient of this grant does not procure employment in public interest work, the grant converts to a loan under the same terms of the Iowa Law School Foundation Loan program. A committee of faculty and staff selects recipients.
ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund The scholarship fund will award $5,000 of financial assistance annually to each scholarship recipient attending an ABA-accredited law school. Twenty awards will be made to first-year students and may be renewable for two additional years, resulting in financial assistance totaling $15,000 during each student's time in law school. For more information and to apply, please click on the link below.
Please include your name, phone number, and student ID number with any financial aid correspondence:
Office of Financial Aid
University of Iowa College of Law
276 Boyd Law Building
Iowa City, IA 52242-1113
319-335-9142 / 800-553-IOWA, Ext 9142
law-financialaid@uiowa.edu
Office of Student Financial Aid
University of Iowa
208 Calvin Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242-1315
319-335-1450 / 800-553-IOWA
http://www.uiowa.edu/financial-aid/
financial-aid@uiowa.edu
