The application period for the 2024-2025 Earl Warren Scholarship is now open. The deadline to apply is May 1, 2025.
The Earl Warren Scholarship is named for the Honorable Earl Warren, the 14th Chief Justice of the United States and former Governor of California whose stewardship of the Warren Court helped end school segregation and transform America’s legal landscape.
In honor of his memory, Earl Warren Scholarships are awarded annually to rising law students whose commitment to racial justice reveal outstanding potential for training as civil rights and public interest attorneys. Eligible law students include those entering their first or second year of full-time legal study at an accredited law school.
LDF’s Earl Warren Scholarship awards are $15,000 per year for three years (provided scholars remain in good academic standing and continue to meet scholarship criteria) for a total of $45,000. Final decisions are made in mid-August/early September. All applicants will be notified regarding the status of their application.
In addition to financial assistance, Earl Warren Scholars have the unique opportunity to apply for LDF internships, externships, or guided research projects—competitive positions that are sought out by dozens of students every year. Please note there is no guarantee that scholars will be selected for internships, externships, or guided research projects. All interested law students must apply. For more information, visit our fellowship and internship page.
Applications must be completed by May 1, 2025. Visit our application portal to apply.
There is no minimum test score or GPA requirement. Candidates are judged holistically and by the full sum of their achievements and contributions. Any application review will take into account a candidate’s GPA, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, volunteer activities and personal essays; however, no single component of an application will determine a scholarship award.
Yes, GRE scores are accepted.
Unfortunately, we are not accepting applications from non-U.S. citizens at this time.
Generally, law school scholarship awards are $15,000 per year for three years provided that the student continues full-time study, remains in good academic standing with his or her college or university, and fulfills all other program requirements.
Applicants must provide a copy of their FAFSA Form with the family/independent adjust gross income line completed (the form must list a dollar amount).
All applicants of the Earl Warren Scholarship will be notified by the middle of August/September whether they do or do not receive a scholarship.
No. Earl Warren Scholarships are only available to students who will be attending accredited law schools in the United States.
No. Earl Warren Scholarships are only available to students who will be attending accredited three-year law schools.
No, you must apply separately. See LDF Fellowships and Internships.
No. You must be a full-time student at an accredited law school.
Two letters of recommendation are needed. We advise applicants to contact their recommenders early to ensure materials are submitted on time.
Eligibility criteria, application process and review, and scholarship amounts/benefits are the same for all law school scholarships via the Herbert Lehman Scholarship and Earl Warren Scholarship programs. All students who apply for a law school scholarship will be considered for both programs. There is one application form for both the Herbert Lehman and Earl Warren law school scholarships. Please complete the application, found here, to be considered for both scholarship opportunities.
