We have been told that Billing & Payment Services (BPS) made an error and sent e-mail to students telling them that their financial aid refunds are now available. If you received the message, please disregard it. Fall 2011 financial aid refunds are scheduled to be disbursed on August 18.
Refund Emails Sent in Error
Continuing Student Scholarship Application – Now Available
The application for Berkeley Law scholarships for continuing students for the 2011-12 academic year is now available. This year we are offering over $75,000 in scholarships for continuing students, with individual awards ranging from $700 to $20,000.
You can download the application here (PDF) or find it on our Forms page. The form is no longer available.
The deadline to submit your application and supporting documents is Wednesday, June 29, 2011.
Best wishes!
Justice Pauline Davis Hanson Scholarship
The Justice Pauline Davis Hanson Scholarship is an annual award to be presented to a current female law student for the following academic year in the amount of $2,000. Each candidate must be a female law student who has successfully completed at least one year of law school and has not graduated. Preference will be given to current or former residents of Fresno, Kings, Madera or Tulare Counties, especially if they intend to practice law in these counties.Completed applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on May 30, 2011. Applications may be sent via email to nstegall@cv-familylaw.com , via fax to (559) 237-6807, or by mail.
Visit our scholarships page for more information and the application.
Filipino Bar Association of Northern CA Scholarships
The Filipino Bar Association of Northern California is offering scholarships to current law students in good standing for the 2011-12 academic year. FBANC historically has granted two scholarships, the FBANC Scholarship and the Raymond L. Ocampo, Jr. Scholarship. Last year, each scholarship was awarded in the amount of $2,500.Candidates will be judged on their application, their demonstrated interest in serving the Filipino-American Community, their persuasiveness, and their desire to serve the Filipino-American Community as an FBANC attorney.
Application materials are available here. Applications must be received by April 9, 2011.
Direct questions to Robert Uy at uyrobert@gmail.com.
When should I expect my financial aid offer?
Entering first year students should be able to see their initial financial aid offer for the 2011-12 academic year in early April. All initial offers will contain eligibility for federal student loans. Students who have completed all requirements for Berkeley Law’s need-based grant will also see any grant eligibility. Please note: Scholarship information will, for the most part, not be available at the time of initial offers. If you are offered a scholarship, you will be notified by e-mail and your financial aid offer will subsequently be modified to reflect the new award.
Continuing students will have initial financial aid offers for 2011-12 available to them at the beginning of May. As with entering students, initial offers will contain loan eligibility and any need-based grant eligibility. Please note: If you haven’t already completed the Supplemental Application which includes your expected summer earnings, you must do so by April 15 to be considered for the need-based grant.
Students in either group who are unsure of whether they have met the requirements should:
a) check their FAFSA Student Aid Report to ensure that the FAFSA information has been sent to Berkeley and that the information was accurate and complete;
b) correct and resubmit the FAFSA info if any financial information has changed or more accurate information is now available; and
c) e-mail us to correct the information submitted on the Supplemental Application if necessary.
2011-12 Need-Based Grant Application Process for Current (Continuing) Students
Starting with the 2011-2012 academic year we ask that students submit student and parent information on the FAFSA instead of the Need Access application. Because the FAFSA does not include a question on home value and debt we also ask that you submit the Supplemental Application for Need-Based Grants to provide us with this information. You must submit complete parental information on both the FAFSA and Supplemental Application unless you will be 30 years old by December 31, 2011 or meet Berkeley Law Financial Aid’s criteria for financial independence.
Note: Please be sure to include parental information on the FAFSA even if the FAFSA classifies you as an “independent” student. FAFSA’s dependency classification does not apply to Berkeley Law’s gift aid.
The Supplemental Application for Need-Based Grants also includes the Expected Summer Earnings information. As a continuing student, you are required to provide this information before an estimate of your grant eligibility can be calculated. Both the FAFSA and the Supplemental Application have a priority deadline of March 2, 2011.
If your applications are received by the deadline, your estimated grant eligibility will be included in your MyFinAid financial aid offer for 2011-2012 which will become available in late April or early May for continuing students.
To determine your actual Need-Based Grant eligibility, you will need to submit the Statement of Confirmed Summer Earnings by July 15, 2011. This form will be available in early summer.
Key Points:
- Include parental info on the FAFSA instead of the Need Access Application
- The priority deadline of March 2, 2011 is the same as last year’s
- Berkeley Law’s definition of “independent” is different from FAFSA’s
- Continuing students should include their Expected Summer Earnings info on the Supplemental Application
- Offer letters for continuing students are expected to be available by early May
- The Confirmed Summer Earnings Statement must be submitted by July 15, 2011
- Both the priority and Confirmed Summer Earnings Statement deadlines are important because the limited need-based grant funds are awarded on a first-come first-served basis
See our Need-Based Grants page for details on the application process and eligibility policy.
CA Bar Foundation 2011 Public Interest Scholarship
This is a reminder that the deadline for the CA Bar Foundation’s Public Interest Scholarship for current 1Ls and 2Ls is approaching.
The Foundation is investing in the next generation of public interest lawyers and it’s flagship Public Interest Scholarship has benefited nearly 600 outstanding law students over the past 20 years and awarded over $3.2 million through its scholarship programs. The Scholarship helps pay the cost of obtaining a law school education, including tuition, fees, books, and related education expenses. Awards of up to $7,500 recognize law students who demonstrate superior academic achievement, a sustained and extensive commitment to public service, often while overcoming serious personal hardships and obstacles, an intent to pursue a career in public interest law, and financial need. The application and more information are available for you to download from the California Bar Foundation’s web site www.calbarfoundation.org
Because each school can nominate five applicants for the Public Interest Scholarship, applications will need to be submitted to the Law School’s Financial Aid Office no later than 5:00 PM, Monday, February 28, 2011.
Please e-mail your application and law school transcripts in PDF format to financial-aid@law.berkeley.edu.
The law school will certify nominees’ Statement of Ethical Standing, and financial need and submit the certification with the nominees’ packet.
For additional information, please contact Jasmine Guillory, Program Director, at 415-856-0780 ext. 302 or by email to jguillory@calbarfoundation.org