CA Bar Foundation 2011 Public Interest Scholarship

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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

Scholarships For Entering First Year Students

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Admitted students may be wondering how first year scholarships work. The application and review process is explained on our Entering Student Scholarships page. Below is a preview of what you will find:

How do I apply?
Admitted first year students are automatically considered for scholarships, but are encouraged to submit the Scholarship Interest Form and/or the Matching Scholarship Form. (Please note: these two links require a CalNet ID and passphrase and therefore are only accessible to admitted students.)

When are awards made?
The scholarship review process runs from January to June with most of the decisions announced in April. If you are offered a scholarship, the Scholarship Committee notifies you directly via email. The scholarship will not be reflected on your financial aid offer until you accept the award.

What is the Matching Scholarship?
The Matching Scholarship is a competitive merit based award which seeks to make Berkeley Law an affordable alternative. Admits offered a scholarship at one of our listed competitor schools may apply.

Rhode Island Bar Foundation Thomas F. Black, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

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The Rhode Island Bar Foundation Thomas F. Black, Jr. Memorial Scholarship is a one year, non-renewable award for full-time students who are Rhode Island residents entering their first year of law school in September 2011. This year the Foundation intends to make two awards of $15,000 each.

Scholarship awards shall be exclusively for tuition and related expenses for persons who enroll as full-time students in programs leading to the award of the L.L.B. or J.D. degree offered by law schools located in one of the United States or District of Columbia and accredited by the American Bar Association. Each scholarship will be made on the basis of demonstrated financial need, superior academic performance, community and public service, and demonstrated contacts with and commitment to the State of Rhode Island.

Applications available at www.ribar.com and the deadline for receipt is March 18, 2011.
For more information, please contact the Rhode Island Bar Foundation office at (401) 421-6541 or e-mail: gcaldwell@ribar.com

Your 1098-T and Income Taxes

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The Financial Aid Office cannot advise on income tax issues but we are providing the following links to get you started in your research.

Publication 970 (Tax Benefits for Education):

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf

If you received a 1098-T document in the mail:

Visit the Tax Credit Reporting Service (TCRS) website at http://www.1098-t.com/ for information about tax credits or your 1098-T. For specific questions about your 1098-T, contact TCRS toll free at (877) 467-3821 (Monday-Friday excluding holidays, from 1pm to 11pm PST).

Graduate Division Parent Grant

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The Graduate Division administers a need-based grant for registered graduate student parents (single, married, or registered domestic partners) with dependent children living with them. This grant may be applied toward housing, dependent health insurance, child care, and/or fee and tuition costs. Awards of approximately $8000 per academic year will be made to eligible students, funding permitting.

The application deadline for continuing students is generally toward the end of March. New students must submit an application by the end of May to be considered for the Parent Grant. The application for the 2011-2012 academic year is not yet available. Check the Graduate Division web site for updated 2011-2012 application deadlines and the new application form:
http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/financial/student_family.shtml

Kern County Women Lawyers Foundation Scholarship

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The Kern County Women Lawyers Association (KCWLA) of Bakersfield, California is an organization that supports and promotes women in the profession as well as issues of gender, diversity, and equality. The KCWLA, trhough its Foundation, the Kern County Women Lawyers Foundation, awards scholarships to both female and male law school students each year, in May or June.
The applicant must have ties to Kern County, California, have financial need and/or hardship and have a good academic standing and scholarship. The Foundation is very interested in candidates who have interests and experiences concerning issues facing the profession and, in particular, those issues important to women.
Each year KCWLA awards at least one scholarship for second, third or fourth year law students. The scholarship award may be anywhere from $250 to $3,000.
The applications must be submitted prior to April 30, 2011 and sent to:
The Kern County Women Lawyers Foundation, c/o Cynthia C. Norris, Secretary, P.O. Box 2702, Bakersfield, California 93302.

Click here to download the application.

Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara

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The George A. Cavalletto Law Scholarship Fund presented by the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara is now available.
Applicants must have originally graduated from a high school in Santa Barbara County, California.
Applicants must be a full-time law school student in 2011-2012, at an ABA-approved law school in California.
Applications must be submitted on-line by January 31,2011
Use the Online student aid application at www.sbscholarship.org
For questions, call the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara at 805-687-6065

Welcome!

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Welcome to the Berkeley Law JD Financial Aid blog! We will be using this space to provide you with timely communications regarding the application process, deadlines, updates, and news. Any announcements made through the BBB, by e-mail, or updates to the website will generally also be posted here.