Since 2006, the Diversity Scholarship Foundation, NFP has provided scholarships and opportunities to law students of diverse backgrounds. The annual Unity Gala serves as the main fundraiser for these scholarships. Each year, our legal community has joined together to raise enough funds to provide an increasing number of scholarships. The scholarships we offer run the gamut of those students interested in public service upon graduation to those who are leaders and achievers in the legal community. Our scholarships are open to all who are dedicated to having our legal community represent the community at large.
The DSF is now formally accepting applications for its 2024 scholarships. The extended deadline to submit a scholarship application is Thursday, October 31, 2024 by 5:00 p.m. (CST). We encourage all law students in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa to apply. The Diversity Scholarship Foundation, NFP supports students seeking a career in the legal profession who have maintained a high GPA and are actively participating or supporting diversity-related programs.
Please see answers to Frequently Asked Questions for helpful information.
This Scholarship will be awarded to a student who actively advocates for diversity within the legal community and works to bring focus to those who do pro-bono work within their community. Students are required to submit an article on their views about “diversity within the legal community” and maintain a 3.8 GPA.*
This Scholarship will be awarded to a law student who is interested in pursuing a career in public service or a student who is actively involved with a not-for-profit agency that represents the needy and the underprivileged. Eligible students maintain a 3.5 GPA.*
New in 2023, the Diversity Scholarship Foundation is proud to be partnering with the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) to provide a paid internship with an Illinois public interest agency to a deserving law student in the spring of next year! PILI’s Law Student Internship Program connects law students with public interest law agencies in Illinois and pays them for their work. Interns receive $3,250.00 for working 200 hours during a semester. Interns can also receive law school credit for their Internship if first approved by both the student’s law school and agency. PILI ensures quality supervision by experienced attorneys while also providing supplemental programmatic, networking and educational opportunities. PILI is now accepting applications for the Spring Semester on a rolling basis through the beginning of December. For more information, please visit https://pili.org/internships/apply-for-a-spring-pili-internship/.
New in 2019, this Scholarship will be awarded to a law student who has demonstrated their leadership skills and used those skills to help achieve diversity and inclusion within the legal community. Those students applying for this award must have their recommenders include information about how the scholarship applicant has been a “leader & achiever.” Eligible students maintain a 3.2 GPA.*
This Scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate student who is actively applying to an accredited law school in Illinois, Wisconsin, or Indiana or is a recent graduate with a four-year degree and is taking the LSAT. Eligible students maintain a 3.5 GPA.* The award will be sent directly to LSAT or to a law school and/or to a LSAT class provider and/or tutoring for LSAT.
Originally established with the support of attorney Stacy J. Campbell-Viamontes as an invitation to wedding guests to make donations in lieu of traditional wedding gifts, this Scholarship has helped fund and support deserving law students with disabilities. This scholarship will be awarded to a law student with a disability attending an accredited law school in Wisconsin, Illinois, or Indiana. There is no GPA requirement for this scholarship.
This Scholarship is awarded to third-year law students who have demonstrated academic ability and the need for financial assistance. This scholarship is intended to help off-set the cost of a Wisconsin, Illinois, or Indiana State Bar Exam preparation course.
*The DSF reserves the right to waive the GPA requirements to well-deserving students who tirelessly advocate for diversity. You must have completed at least two semesters of law school (and have a transcript) to qualify for all but the LSAT scholarship.