Scholarships
At OU Law, the scholarship process takes place in several stages. Many scholarships are awarded to incoming first-year students shortly after admittance to OU Law.
Incoming Student Scholarships
All OU Law applications completed by the March 15 deadline will be considered for academic scholarships. No separate scholarship application is required. The Scholarship Committee typically distributes available funds based on academic achievement, successful performance on the LSAT and other life experiences. If you are awarded a scholarship, we will notify you promptly after you have been admitted to OU Law. Admitted students can expect to be notified of a merit-based scholarship within a month of an admission decision. Contact Student Services for more information.
The Comfort Scholarship is one of the most prestigious awards at OU Law. Through a generous endowment from William T. Comfort Jr. and James T. Comfort, OU Law awards merit-based scholarships to incoming students with exemplary academic qualifications and LSAT scores. The Comfort Scholarship is awarded without regard to financial need. Comfort Scholars are considered to be among the most outstanding group of incoming students.
The Frank and Edna Asper Elkouri Scholarship is one of our most impressive awards. Professor Frank Elkouri, a nationally noted authority on labor arbitration, joined the faculty in 1952 and remained with the College of Law for 58 years. Prior to joining the faculty, Elkouri practiced with the Oklahoma City law firm of Quinlan & Elkouri and was an attorney with the National Wage Stabilization Board in Washington, D.C., and Dallas. From 1952 until 1957, in addition to teaching, he was the advisor to the Office of the President at OU. Elkouri was appointed to a George Lynn Cross Research Professorship in 1975 and awarded the Whitney North Seymour Medal from the American Arbitration Association in 1980. Though he retired in 1985, he continued his leadership as professor emeritus at the law school through 2010. It is Frank and Edna Asper Elkouri’s desire to help defray the cost of tuition and educational expenses of a number of our most academically exceptional law students.
First-, Second-, and Third-Year Scholarships
In addition to incoming student scholarships, OU Law administers a scholarship and awards program based on a scholarship application. This application is available to all students on the Courtyard during the first two weeks of classes in each fall and spring semester. A pdf of the student's resume must be uploaded as well.
By completing the application, students are considered for all merit, field of interest, and need-based scholarships for which they qualify. Scholarships range from several hundred to several thousand dollars. The Scholarship Committee makes decisions in October and April of each year.
External Scholarships
In addition to internal scholarships, OU Law receives notifications about outside scholarships and awards available to law students.
Additionally, AccessLex, our financial counseling/educational partners, have vetted & compiled a list of numerous external scholarships in a database for us. Click here to view & apply for those.
Current external opportunities are listed here and are updated throughout the year. Click on each scholarship heading to learn more about their specific application requirements and processes.
AccessLex, our financial counseling/educational partners, have vetted & compiled a list of numerous external scholarships in a database for us. Click here to view & apply for those.
The $25,000 “Be Bold” Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship that will be awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile.
To us, boldest does not mean “best”, or “most accomplished”. Being bold means being:
- Earnest
- Determined
- Moving
The scholarship will be awarded to the student whose profile is most bold, according to these characteristics.
Furthermore, this scholarship will be similar to the many easy scholarships available on Bold.org in that it will favor students who apply earlier—who are bold and seize the day without procrastinating.
Students at any education level, state, field of study, and GPA will be considered.
Bold.org is an independent scholarship provider that helps students, regardless of financial status, have the opportunity to pursue higher education and the career of their dreams. It's their mission to make college accessible for all students by eliminating student debt.
Please find the link to their upcoming mental heath scholarship opportunities here.
The Society has created the Dan Hobbs Prize, to be awarded to an undergraduate and/or graduate student for research on any aspect of the history of Oklahoma higher education. The prize is named in honor of Dan S. Hobbs, a longtime and prominent figure in Oklahoma higher education, a distinguished system historian, and a founding member of the Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society. The Society has a wide-range of interest in serious research scholarship or scholarly projects relating to any aspect of Oklahoma higher education, including institutional histories or aspects of those histories about a particular faculty member or administrator; groups or types of institutions and their development or contributions; the higher education system’s relationship to/or impact on social, political, cultural, or economic trends and circumstances; state, national, global, etc.
Participating in the Dan Hobbs Prize is not just an opportunity to showcase research skills but also a chance to gain recognition and a cash award. Entries should reflect recent production during the last three years. If presented as a traditional research paper, it should not exceed ten (10) double-spaced pages in length, including documentation. If entered as a project, an abstract narrative description of no more than two (2) pages will be enough for you to consider. Works will be judged based on the quality of research and the skill in conveying its findings. We expect evidence of the supervising instructor’s clear oversight reflected in the scholarly priorities and format of the submission and the supervisor’s endorsement that it is worthy of special recognition.
Those receiving the Hobbs Prize (undergraduate and/or graduate) will receive an award of $500.00. Award recipients and supervising instructors will be recognized at the Society’s annual Hall of Fame Banquet in Oklahoma City. Entries should be submitted no later than September 10, 2024, to Dr. Donna Castle Richardson, OHEHS Executive Director, 19400 Stubblefield Lane, Edmond, OK 73012). They may also be submitted electronically by email to drichardson@ou.edu. Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Donna Castle Richardson by email or call 405-570-6155.
The Law Offices of Daniel Kim are thrilled to announce that they are providing a $5,000 scholarship to a student dedicated to making a positive impact in their community.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Currently enrolled or accepted to a university or college for the 2024/2025 school year.
- Maintaining good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Must be a US Citizen.
Application Process:
- Applications will undergo review by The Law Offices of Daniel Kim.
- Selection criteria are centered on the originality and quality of the essay submission.
- Submit applications by 5:00 PM PST on December 31st, 2024.
Winner Announcement:
The recipient will be announced on January 20, 2025.
For further details about the opportunity and award, you can visit our scholarship page here.
Gerald Miller is thrilled to offer a $2,500 scholarship to support law students who aspire to become criminal defense lawyers and open their own law firm after graduation. The Aspiring Criminal Defense Lawyer Law Student Scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance and empower future legal professionals to overcome challenges they may encounter during their studies.
Eligibility and application requirements can be found here. Deadline to apply is August 31, 2024. The winner will be announced by September 20, 2024
LA Tutors awards students who showcase their creativity and make positive impacts with a $500 Innovation in Education scholarship. On an ongoing monthly basis, this scholarship is open to all currently enrolled high school and college students who showcase their creativity while helping those around them (whether that be in a creative fundraiser, inventive new app, series of blog posts on a particular theme, or another idea).
The application deadline is 11:59 pm PST on the 20th of each month.
Requirements:
- Must be currently enrolled in high school or college
- Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (or the equivalent)
- Must be a citizen of, permanent resident of, or hold a valid student visa in the United States or Canada
To Enter:
- Visit our online application portal at https://www.latutors123.com/scholarships/innovation-in-education/
- Submit an essay describing their innovative project
- Provide supporting documentation (letter of recommendation, news article/photo featuring their project, etc.)
There are no fees associated with this scholarship and featured past winners and their accomplishments can be found at the bottom of the web page.
The Lemon Law Experts Scholarship is an annual $1000 award designed to support aspiring law students. Our firm, based in Los Angeles, is dedicated to empowering the next generation of legal professionals.
Scholarship Details:
- Amount: $1000
- Application Deadline: August 31st (annually)
A $1,000 monthly short essay scholarship awarded to a student who can share in three sentences: What drives your forward?
For more information and to apply, please click here.
Essay Question: In 300-500 words, answer the following question:
“What aspect of Florida’s personal injury law would you change? What law would you enact and why?”
Scholarship Amount: $1,000
Deadline: September 9, 2024, 11:59 PM (EST)
Sponsor: Redondo Law Firm
Eligibility: You must be a U.S. resident or resident alien who is enrolled at a U.S. college or university. Essays must be unique (not submitted elsewhere) and written by the scholarship application signator. Only one submission per student will be considered. There’s no fee to apply.
Financial Aid
Federal student loans are available to students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens. Eligible students may be able to obtain a Federal Stafford Loan. Other loan options, including the Federal Graduate PLUS Loan and Private Educational Loans, may be available to students who wish to borrow beyond the maximum of the Stafford Loan. Both the Federal Graduate PLUS and Private Loans require a credit check to be performed by the selected lender.
To determine eligibility status and initiate the financial aid process, students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA becomes available on October 1 for the following fall and spring semesters. Parental information is not required on the FAFSA for OU Law students. The FAFSA can be completed by visiting studentaid.gov. OU's school code is 00318400. Do not hold submission of the FAFSA because of not yet filing a federal income tax return. Instead, provide an estimate of income. To electronically sign your FAFSA, you will need your four digit federal PIN. If you do not have one, or if you do not remember your PIN, you can request a new or duplicate one by visiting the IRS website.
For students who are not eligible for federal financial aid, private educational loans may be an option if the student has a sufficiently lengthy and positive credit history in the United States or can apply with a credit worthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. Eligible students can apply for a private educational loan up to the institution's cost of attendance minus any aid they have already been awarded. For additional information about these loan programs, please contact our Financial Aid Office by visiting OU's Fin Aid Office.
Refer to the links below for more information about financial aid:
OU Student Financial Center - Review the Graduate and Law Students section which includes information on student loans
FAFSA
GRADPlus
AccessLex
Internal Revenue Service
A Quick Guide to FinAid