Scholarship Available: Soros Fellowship

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Are you an entering 1L or rising 2L? Consider applying for the prestigious Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship!

Soros Fellowships are open to immigrants and the children of immigrants who are 30 or younger and entering or are in their first two years of graduate school as of the November 1, 2016 deadline. Fellows receive up to $90,000 over two years in support of their education: $40,000 in tuition support and $50,000 in stipend support. More importantly, they join a lifelong community of New Americans who are making significant contributions to society.

A successful candidate will be chosen based primarily on the following criteria:

1) creativity, originality, and initiative demonstrated in any area of his/her life

2) a commitment to and capacity for accomplishment demonstrated through activity that has required drive and sustained effort

3) a commitment to the values expressed in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights

  • Deadline: November 1, 2016
  • Awards: up to $90,000
  • Website: https://www.pdsoros.org/apply

New Scholarship Available: Hon. Patricia Herron and Hon. Ellen James Scholarship

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WOMEN’S SECTION OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION – HON. PATRICIA HERRON AND HON. ELLEN JAMES SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship is available to a continuing law school student with a commitment to women’s issues, leadership potential, and academic achievement. Successful applicant must also have a demonstrated connection to Contra Costa County.

See application for more details.

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New Scholarships Available: Michael Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies

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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION – MICHAEL WEINER SCHOLARSHIP FOR LABOR STUDIES

This scholarship is available to law students with demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in the labor movement and on behalf of workers’ rights.

Applicant must have expected graduation dates that is no earlier than December 2016.

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Fees and Cost of Attendance for 2015-2016 Academic Year

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The Cost of Attendance (COA) or budget for a student is an estimate of that student’s educational expenses for the period of enrollment. The Higher Education Act of 1965 specifies that a student’s COA includes tuition and fees normally assessed for a student carrying the same academic workload and an allowance for living expenses, such as room and board, books and supplies, personal, and transportation costs. The law also provides limited allowances for loan fees, dependent-care costs, and expenses for disabled students. The following tables show the average expenses for a nine-month academic year based on 2015-2016 fee levels. Students should take into account their own spending and the possibility of unforeseen expenses.

More information can be found in the Fees & Cost of Attendance page.

J.D. Program Expenses
for CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS		 Fall
2015		 Spring
2016		 Academic Year
2015-2016
Tuition and Fees (Total) $24,312.25 $24,312.25 $48,624.50
Living Expenses (Total) $12,162.00 $12,162.00 $24,324.00
Books & Supplies   $748.00   $748.00 $1,496.00
Health Insurance Fees*  $1,877.00  $1,877.00 $3,754.00
Total CA Resident Student Budget** $39,099.25 $39,099.25 $78,198.50
J.D. Program Expenses
for NON-RESIDENTS		 Fall
2015		 Spring
2016		 Academic Year
2015-2016
Tuition and Fees (Total) $26,287.75 $26,287.75 $52,575.50
Living Expenses (Total) $12,162.00 $12,162.00 $24,324.00
Books & Supplies   $748.00   $748.00 $1,496.00
Health Insurance Fees*  $1,877.00  $1,877.00 $3,754.00
Total Non-Resident Student Budget** $41,074.75 $41,074.75 $82,149.50

*If you have comparable insurance, you may waive enrollment. Go to the University Health Services website for more information.

**New law students are also assessed a $27 Document Management Fee.

All fees are subject to change.

The estimated tuition and fees are contingent upon projections of competitors’ fees. Since 2007, Berkeley Law has limited its fee increases so that its resident fees will not exceed its policy benchmark of market rate.

New Scholarship Available: Latham & Watkins – 2L Diversity Scholarship Program

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Latham & Watkins – 2L Diversity Scholars Program

This scholarship is available to enrolled law students entering their second year of JD program in fall 2015. Successful applicants must demonstrate interest in practicing law at Latham and their commitment to diversity.

In addition to the award, recipients will be offered a summer associate position at Latham in summer 2016.

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Application for Continuing Student Scholarships Is Now Available

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The online application for Berkeley Law Scholarships for Continuing Students for the 2015-2016 academic year is now available on our Forms page.  We encourage you to apply for scholarships that match your academic and career interests. This year we are offering over $150,000 in scholarships with individual awards of up to $19,000.  Click here to submit your application.

Eligibility Requirements

You must be a currently enrolled Berkeley Law JD student becoming a 2L or 3L in the 2015-2016 academic year. Transfer applicants for the 2015-2016 academic year are ineligible for consideration.

Please submit only once and be sure to include all required documents.  The deadline to submit your application and supporting documents is May 20, 2015 at 5:00 PM PST.

Good luck!

New Scholarships Available: Filipino Bar Assoc of Northern CA Foundation Legal Scholarships

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FILIPINO BAR ASSOCIATION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FOUNDATION LEGAL SCHOLARSHIPS

This scholarship is available for enrolling or enrolled law school students who demonstrate strong academic achievement and interest in serving the Filipino-American community.

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University Bar Study Loan Application Is Now Available

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Students graduating in May 2015 may borrow a University Bar Study Loan for the amount of $4,200 from Berkeley Law. These loans are to cover bar exam costs and living expenses while preparing for the examination. The Bar Study Loan is not available to students who are blocked or have a university account that is past due.

The application is available for download from the Financial Aid Forms webpage.

INSTRUCTIONS

Please return all completed documents in person to the Berkeley Law Financial Aid Office at 396 Simon Hall no later than April 3, 2015.  The office hours are Monday—Friday from 9:00 AM—4:00 PM. Applications received by mail will not be processed! Please refer to the application for more instructional details.

LOAN REPAYMENT

Repayment of Bar Study Loan begins January 1, 2016 with the first payment due on February 1, 2016.

Payments are due on the first of each month until the loan is repaid in full. The interest rate is 8 % and the interest will be calculated beginning January 1, 2016. The borrower will have 30 months to repay the loan but there is no penalty for early repayment. Bar Study loans are no longer eligible for repayment assistance through Berkeley Law’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program and cannot be consolidated into the Federal Direct Loan program. ACS will be the servicer for this loan.

Remember: Each applicant is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all submitted information.

Good luck on the bar exam!

New Scholarship Available for 1Ls: Arnold & Porter LLP – Diversity Scholarship

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ARNOLD & PORTER LLP – DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship is available for current 1L students who (a) contribute to the diverse background of the law school student body, (b) demonstrate strong academic achievement, and (c) demonstrate an interest in promoting diversity in the legal profession.

  • Deadline: 2015/03/15
  • Awards: $10,000 (variable)
  • Contact: Emilie Lawson, Professional Development Manager
  • Phone:
  • Email:
  • Website: http://arnoldporter.webfactional.com/environment/scholarship.html
  • Address:
  • Last updated: 2015/02/18
  • Keywords: african asian disabled female hispanic latino jewish lgbt lesbian gay bisexual transgender native 1l arnold & porter diversity

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Applying for Financial Aid and Need-based Grants

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The following is a reminder about the application process for financial aid for the 2015-2016 academic year. We are writing to ask that you submit your FAFSA application early during the month of February. Please do not wait until an admission decision is made to submit your FAFSA to Berkeley.

APPLYING FOR ANY FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID

Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online with Berkeley Law’s school code 001312. Submit your application by the priority deadline of March 2, 2015 in order to be considered for a need-based grant or scholarships.

Entering First Year Students and Applicants: Students admitted after the priority deadline are encouraged to wait until they have their Student ID Number to submit the Supplemental Application.

Limited resources are available for international students. Click here for more information.

APPLYING FOR NEED-BASED GRANTS

Students applying for need-based grants, in addition to submitting the FAFSA, must also submit the following:

Tips on completing your application process:

  • Submit complete student information with spouse information, if married, and be sure to include accurate and complete financial information on both the FAFSA and Supplemental Application. Some students choose to file their federal and state income tax returns early in order to have their information ready by the March 2 deadline.
  • Submit complete parent information on both the FAFSA and Supplemental Application unless you will turn 30 years old by December 31, 2015or have worked with us to establish independence as an exception. Again, be sure that the financial information you provide is both complete and accurate. Visit our Need-Based Grants page for details.
  • International students applying for need-based grants should complete a FAFSA utilizing the SSN/SIN created by LSAC when asked for a social security number in the online application. This system generated number can be found once logged into LSAC. Although the completed FAFSA will be rejected by the US Department of Education for the purposes of federal student aid, the needed information will load into our financial aid system, completing the FAFSA requirement for need-based grant consideration. The Supplemental Application for Need-Based Grants is also required for consideration.


APPLYING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

Entering First Year Students: Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis typically beginning in April. Separate scholarship notifications are sent by the Admissions Office when awards are made. Everyone is considered for general scholarships but information on applying for specific scholarships will be made available upon admission.

Continuing Students: We announce Berkeley Law scholarships for continuing students at least once a year. Check our website and follow our blog for details.


TIMELINE

If all of your required information is received by March 2, we will attempt to have a preliminary financial aid offer available to you by early April. Financial aid offers cannot be made available before April.

Entering First Year Students and Applicants: For students admitted after March 2 or who complete applications after March 2, financial aid offers will be provided weekly after initial awards are sent.


IF YOU MISS THE MARCH 2 DEADLINE

Applications received after the March 2 priority deadline will be considered for gift aid (grants and scholarships) on a first-come first-served basis if funds remain available.


INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS

It is the student’s responsibility to meet all financial aid requirements and deadlines. Incomplete applications may result in processing delays. We encourage you to use the Entering Student Checklist or Continuing Student Checklist to keep track of what you submitted.

If you have any questions, please contact us at financial-aid@law.berkeley.edu.