On Thursday, March 31, there will be a workshop presented by UC Berkeley’s Residence Affairs Unit regarding establishing California Residency for tuition purposes. Students currently billed as nonresidents but planning to appeal their residency status for 2011-2012 should attend this informal lunch period gathering from 12:45 -1:45 in Room 100 Boalt. The impact of working out of California this summer and tips for completing the appeal will be discussed by the presenter. The online Residency Petitions should be available on bearfacts in early May.
Bar Study Loan Application Now Available
Students graduating in May 2011 may take out a University Bar Study Loan from Boalt Hall. These loans are to cover bar exam costs and living expenses while preparing for the examination. The University Bar Study Loan is not available to students who are blocked or have a university account that is past due.Loan amount: $4,200
The application is available for download from the Financial Aid website.
Return all completed documents in person to the Berkeley Law Financial Aid Office at 2850 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 500, no later than May 13, 2011. Office hours are Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Applications received by mail will not be processed.
Repayment of loan: Repayment begins January 1, 2012 with the first payment due on February 1, 2012
Payments are due on the first of each month until the loan is repaid in full. The interest rate is 8 percent, and the interest will be calculated beginning January 1, 2012. The borrower will have 30 months to repay the loan, but there is no penalty for early repayment. Bar Study loans are eligible for repayment assistance through Berkeley Law’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program.
Notaries on campus can be found at blu. https://blu.berkeley.edu/notaries.htm. Copy Central and Kinkos also have notaries.
Deadline Extended to Thursday, March 3: Foley & Lardner Diversity Scholarship
In 1998, Foley & Lardner created this program to raise awareness of diversity-related issues in the legal profession. A strong and effective diversity program is one of the highest priorities of the firm, and the Diversity Scholarship Program exemplifies Foley’s tangible commitment to the advancement of diverse law students and to achieving a more inclusive legal community. Through the program, Foley awards a $5,000 scholarship to a diverse law student at select law schools: Berkeley, Duke, Florida, Georgetown, Michigan, Northwestern, UCLA, and Wisconsin. Foley will award one scholarship in the amount of $5,000 to a first-year student at each law school noted above. To be eligible, an applicant must be either a) a member of one of the following government recognized racial/ethnic groups as defined by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance programs: American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or Hispanic or b) identify as LGBT. The scholarship will be paid either to the recipient or to the law school (at the recipient’s request) during the recipient’s spring semester and is to be applied to tuition, books, fees, and other expenses incident to law school attendance.
Consideration is given to significant involvement in community activities; significant involvement in diversity-related student organizations; outstanding work or personal achievements; and undergraduate and law school academic achievement. Financial need is not a consideration. Foley’s Diversity Scholarship Program Committee will select each scholarship recipient.
An information sheet and application are available online at Foley.com/diversityscholarships
The deadline has been extended to 5:00pm, Thursday, March 3rd, 2011.
For more information, please visit foley.com or foleyrecruiting.com
Wiley Manuel Law Foundation Scholarship
The Wiley Manuel Law Foundation is accepting applications for scholarships to be awarded to law students who best exemplify the quality of the late California Supreme Court Associate Justice Wiley M. Manuel. Justice Manuel was the first African-american to serve on the California Supreme Court. Last year the Foundation awarded twelve scholarships to students at several Northern California law schools.
The application should be completed and returned as soon as possible, but no later than March 15, 2011.
Questions? Contact George Holland, 510-465-4100
Visit our Scholarships page for more information and the application.
International House Academic Year 2011-2012 and Fall Semester 2011 Room And Board Financial Aid Awards for International students, U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
Financial aid for room and board is available to graduate or upper division students who have already completed one academic year at UC Berkeley and who demonstrate financial need. Awards are for full or partial payment of room and board fees at the International House. Applications are available at http://ihouse.berkeley.edu
Application deadline: Friday, March 4 2011, 4:30P.M.
Please submit your completed application by e mail to:
US Citizens & Permanent residents: Gina Abrams at usfinaid@berkeley.edu
International Students: Josiane Siegfried at edfinaid@berkeley.edu
FAFSA Deadline Approaching
Just a quick reminder:
The deadline for the FAFSA is this Wednesday, March 2nd. Berkeley’s School Code is 001312.
The deadline for the Supplemental Application is also March 2nd. This form is required for those interested in applying for need-based grants.
Note: People who intend to submit the Statement of Independence and are fairly sure they will qualify based on our criteria may submit the Statement after the deadline. The Statement of Independence is NOT due March 2nd.
TAX DAY at Boalt – Hot Dogs, Beer, and Healthy Financial Futures – Thurs, March 3rd
Re-posted from the master calendar:
Calling all 3Ls and LLMs!
Worried about post-graduation loans? Want help planning your financial future? Like FREE hot dogs and beer? Then come to TAX DAY, a special financial planning event for Boalt 2011 Graduates.
In two simultaneous sessions, one each for students entering the public and private sectors, Berkeley’s best Tax Law and Policy professors, Robert Bartlett, Mark Gergen, Ann O’Leary, and Eric Talley, will explain concepts like “marginal rate,” “401(k),” and “how to file your tax returns properly so you can be Senate-confirmed someday.” Sigrid Allen and Dennis Tominaga, top-notch representatives from the Financial Aid Office will also be on hand to answer questions. And Dean Christopher Edley will add his remarks as well!
The Public Sector Session will be in Room 110, and will feature a discussion of public-interest and non-profit personal finances, and the ins and outs of LRAP and other programs (including CCRAA) designed to help public interest lawyers reduce their loan burdens.
The Private Sector Session will be in Room 100, and will explain what to expect for loan repayment on an associate’s salary, what your take-home pay will really be, and how to plan for a financially prudent future as a firm lawyer.
This is a unique opportunity to drink beer AND ask your tax and finance questions to the experts – don’t miss it!
Hot Dogs from Top Dog and beer (& non-alcoholic beverages) will be served in the Steinhart Courtyard from 4:30-5:30 pm.
The Tax Sessions will go from 5:30-6:30 pm in Rooms 100 and 110. For those interested in hearing the information in both sessions, they will each be recorded and the recordings will be made available on the Class Campaign website.
Brought to you by the Class of 2011 Campaign Committee and the Boalt Hall Alumni Center.
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.
Foley & Lardner Diversity Scholarship Deadline Approaching
In 1998, Foley & Lardner created this program to raise awareness of diversity-related issues in the legal profession. A strong and effective diversity program is one of the highest priorities of the firm, and the Diversity Scholarship Program exemplifies Foley’s tangible commitment to the advancement of diverse law students and to achieving a more inclusive legal community. Through the program, Foley awards a $5,000 scholarship to a diverse law student at select law schools: Berkeley, Duke, Florida, Georgetown, Michigan, Northwestern, UCLA, and Wisconsin. Foley will award one scholarship in the amount of $5,000 to a first-year student at each law school noted above. To be eligible, an applicant must be either a) a member of one of the following government recognized racial/ethnic groups as defined by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance programs: American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or Hispanic or b) identify as LGBT. The scholarship will be paid either to the recipient or to the law school (at the recipient’s request) during the recipient’s spring semester and is to be applied to tuition, books, fees, and other expenses incident to law school attendance.
Consideration is given to significant involvement in community activities; significant involvement in diversity-related student organizations; outstanding work or personal achievements; and undergraduate and law school academic achievement. Financial need is not a consideration. Foley’s Diversity Scholarship Program Committee will select each scholarship recipient.
An information sheet and application are available online at Foley.com/diversityscholarships
Completed applications will be accepted as of February 1, 2011 with an application deadline of February 28, 2011.
For more information, please visit foley.com or foleyrecruiting.com
Jim Fahey Safe Homes for Women Fellowship
The Jim Fahey Safe Homes Fund for Women endowment was established in 2007 to provide scholarships for graduate students at UC Berkeley with demonstrated financial need and a strong aptitude in relevant subjects as well as a deep commitment to combating domestic violence against women. The first award will be offered this spring in the amount of $1,000, and more awards will be offered early in 2012. A student may receive this award more than once during his or her academic career. The award is made possible by a bequest from the late attorney Jim Fahey, an alumnus of the Class of 1935 who was passionate about combating domestic violence.
The application is available online (PDF), and is due, with supporting materials, March 1, 2011, in the Graduate Services: Fellowships Office at 318 Sproul Hall; Berkeley, CA 94720-5900. Please do not submit your application to the Berkeley Law Financial Aid Office.