Public Interest Law Center

How to Apply

Applicants are invited to apply for all of the public service scholarships that fit their interests and goals. Deferring students must reapply for scholarships in the spring preceding enrollment.

In addition to completing all of the JD application, scholarship applicants must:

  • Submit at least one additional letter of recommendation that addresses your commitment to public service.  If one of your two letters of recommendation directly addresses your public service commitment, you may choose not to submit a third letter of recommendation.
  • Supplement your admissions personal statement with a short public service essay not to exceed 750 words. Discuss your public service commitment and goals and the factors that have most significantly influenced them, or any other aspects you consider relevant to your qualification for the scholarship(s). 
  • Read and acknowledge the appropriate statements in the Scholarship Programs Section 11 of the JD application. Here, you can choose to apply to one or more of the scholarships.
  • Attach your public service essay to your JD application. Please clearly identify your scholarship essay. If you are admitted to the Law School, your entire admissions application will be submitted to and reviewed by the Root-Tilden-Kern Selection Committee.
  • The priority deadline for all programmatic scholarships is December 1, and all scholarship applications must be submitted no later than January 1. Those who are selected for interviews will be notified between February and mid-March. Interviews will be conducted in March or April 2024. Scholarship offers will be made shortly after the interviews. Finalists will be expected to respond within three days to these offers. Applicants therefore should plan to attend other schools’ admitted student days, and gather whatever other information they need, in order to make a decision about the scholarship within three days of receiving an offer.