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minority resources OCU LAW is mindful of the continued under-representation of all minorities, in law schools and within the legal profession. Diversity in experience, heritage, and viewpoint has proven to enhance the educational experience of all students; thus, OCU LAW is engaged in several initiatives designed to increase the number of minority law applicants, to increase minority enrollment, and to engage the larger legal community in issues of diversity. We encourage you to contact us for more information. If you are a prospective or current law student, this page has been prepared as a resource for you -- we have provided scholarship information, and links to organizations and resources that will assist you in preparing for law school. We encourage you learn more about our school, to apply to OCU LAW and to contact our Office of Admissions is you have any questions. And be sure and contact our Minority Outreach Coordinator or Student Ambassadors if you have questions about preparing for law school. |
Resources for Minority Law Students at OCU LAW
Minority Outreach Coordinator and Minority Outreach Ambassadors Casey Ross-Petherick is a member of the Admissions Office and is available to assist prospective law students with their application and to answer questions about law school. She can be contacted at 405.208.5354 or 866.529.6281.
The following current minority law ambassadors have volunteered to assist prospective law students with questions or concerns about the admissions process, preparing for law school, or about attending law school at OCU LAW. Please feel free to contact them.
BLSA (Black Law Student Association)
HLSA (Hispanic National Bar Association)
MLSA (Multi-Cultural Law Student Alliance)
NALSA (Native American Law Student Association)
Other OCU LAW Student Organizations
LGLSA Lesbian and Gay Law Student Association
NALRC is the School of Law’s Native American Legal Resource Center. Dedicated to advancing scholarship in the field of American Indian law and improving the quality of legal representation for Native Americans, NALRC provides opportunities for students to gain experience working on Native American legal issues.
Profile of 1L Class, 2006:
African Americans: 2%
American Indian: 7%
Asian American: 3%
Mexican American, Hispanic, Latino: 6%
Total Minority: 17%
(posted 09/18/2006 by Dean Martinez-Anderson)
(posted 06/16/2006 by Law School Communications)
(posted 04/06/2006 by Law School Communications)
(posted 04/04/2006 by Law School Communications)
American Bar Association - Diversity Initiatives The goals of the Office of Diversity Initiatives are to increase minority participation in the legal profession by encouraging members of racial/ethnic minority groups to consider law as a career and to provide increased opportunities for minorities already in the profession.
Project 1000 provides users with access to over 4000 grants, fellowships and scholarships in various fields.
About.com offers minority students a great overview of scholarship resources and articles.
Minority Corporate Counsel Association web site provides students with access to over 100 scholarship programs for minority students. This is a very comprehensive list of resources for all minority groups including women.
NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund provides a list of scholarships offered by the Fund.
http://bss.sfsu.edu/prelaw/leoproject.pdf - This article helps provide minority students with the most recent scholarships and programs available to help ease the admissions process into law school. Although this site may not provide students with direct access to such programs, it does provide students with the appropriate contact information and resources to aid in the process.
Scholarships for Asian Students
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
http://www.napaba.org/napaba/showpage.asp?code=scholarships
Filipino Lawyers Association of San Diego
http://www.falsd.org/ScholarshipInformation.html
Japanese American Bar Association
Contact:
Bob Kawahara
JABA Scholarship Committee
P.O. Box 86812
Los Angeles, CA 90086
Phone: 213-200-0184
Email: rmkatty@pacbell.net
The Korean-American Scholarship Foundation provides partial financial support for Korean-American students enrolled in a full-time degree program. For more information, please go to the web site.
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard’s web site provides students of Asian decent information on scholarship opportunities. Site also provides information for other scholarships. A great place to start for background information on the types of organizations that may offer assistance to minority students.
Scholarships for African-American Students
National Black Law Students Association
http://www.nblsa.org/resources/scholarships/
http://www.uncf.org/scholarships/index.asp You can use this site to search through thousands of scholarships and grants, many of which are administered by the United Negro College Fund. You will have access to both UNCF administered scholarships and scholarships administered by other organizations. You can search alphabetically, geographically and by discipline or major.
NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
http://www.naacpldf.org/landing.aspx?context=5
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (prospective students)
http://www.jackkentcookefoundation.org/jkcf_web/home.aspx?Page=Main
Congressional Black Caucus
http://www.cbcfinc.org/CBC%20Spouses/Scholarships/index.html
Scholarships for Hispanic American Students
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund offers scholarships to students serving the Latino community in financial need. Scholarships are offered for first, second, and third year law students. http://www.maldef.org/education/law.htm%20
The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans
Esperanza Scholarship Fund
http://hace-usa.org/college.htm lists scholarships offered for Hispanic students on basis of need, merit, and leadership, sponsored by Hispanic College Fund.
LULAC National Educational Service Center Scholarship
www.lulac.org/Programs/Scholar.html
National Latino/a Law Student Association
http://www.nllsa.org/scholarships.html
Hispanic College Fund
http://scholarships.hispanicfund.org/applications/
Saludos
http://www.saludos.com/educationpavilion/scholarships/lawschol.htm
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute provides scholarships to Latino students with a history of public service-oriented activity in their communities. There is no GPA or major requirements. Those with leadership potential are encouraged to apply.
www.chci.org/chciyouth/scholarship/scholarshipawards.htm
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund provides assistance to graduate students of Hispanic heritage and registered in a full-time degree program in completing their higher education. Please refer to website for further information. You may also contact the Fund at College Scholarship Program, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, 55 Second Street, Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94105. www.hsf.net/scholarship/collegeRetention.html
Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund (PRLDEF) The PRLDEF Education Division works directly with Latinos and other students of color to encourage them to pursue a legal career. In providing direct services to students, we continue to ensure that the legal profession includes people of color. educaton@prldef.org
Scholarships for Native American Students
Loan for Service (Native American)
http://www.aigcs.org/scholarships/loanforservice/lfs2006.asp
John Rainer Fellowship Program
http://www.aigcs.org/scholarships/Rainer/Rainer2006.asp
Wells Fargo Graduate Scholarship
http://www.aigcs.org/scholarships/WellsFargo/Graduates2006.asp
Association on American Indian Affairs
http://www.indian-affairs.org/
McNair Scholarship Program
http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/mcnair/
Scholarships for Middle Eastern Students
American Federation of Ramallah, Palestine
Arab Studies Aid, International
http://www.arabstudentaid.org/
Scholarships for Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Students
Transgender Scholarship and Education Legacy Fund
The Point Foundation
http://www.thepointfoundation.org/scholarships.html
The Audre Lorde Scholarship Fund
http://www.zami.org/scholarship.htm
External Resources and Links for Prospective or Current Minority Law Students
Council on Legal Education Opportunity - CLEO The Council on Legal Education Opportunity is committed to encouraging and preparing minority and low-income students to attend law school. CLEO offers Summer Institutes for Freshmen and Sophomores as well as a preparatory institute for prospective law students the summer before they are scheduled to begin law school.
Info.gradschool.net contains information on education-finance resources and well as general resources to fund one’s education depending on specific area of interest from federal government to private businesses and organizations offering assistance students.
The Minorities Interested in Legal Education (MILE) project is an effort to address the underrepresentation of minorities in the legal profession by providing minority students with reliable information about preparation for law school. Primarily designed for college freshmen and sophomores, MILE offers information that can help enhance your academic preparation for law school.
The National Black Law Students’ Association is a national organization created and designed to articulate and promote the professional needs and goals of Black law students; to foster and encourage professional competence; to focus upon the relationship of the Black attorney to the American legal system; to instill in the Black attorney and law student a greater awareness of and commitment to the needs of the Black community; to utilize their expertise to initiate a change within the legal system that will make it more responsive to the needs and concerns of the Black community; to do any and all things necessary and lawful for the accomplishment of these goals. provides a comprehensive list of scholarship opportunities for all minorities, not just Black students. Although the list states these scholarships are for undergraduate students, many of the scholarships listed can also be applied to minority law students (just refer to qualifications of specific scholarship)
The National Student Loan Program web site gives students a great overview of the funding process.
Minority Online Information Services (MOLIS) is a ground-breaking online database of over 268 minority institutions which is used by government agencies, the private sector and other organizations and institutions to develop partnerships with minority institutions. This site contains helpful information to provide minority students with resources in funding their education.
LGBT: The movement for social and legal recognition of the rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) people is now a part of the national discourse, with new developments occurring at an unprecedented pace. The legal profession itself has made great strides. Information to aid members of the LGBT community as they seek legal careers is located through the Law School Admissions Council web site.
Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) - The Hispanic National Bar Association is an incorporated, non-profit, national association representing the interest of over 25,000 Hispanic American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students in the United States and Puerto Rico. The primary objectives of the HNBA are to increase professional opportunities for Hispanics in the legal profession, and address issues of concern to the national Hispanic community. Legal education and civil rights have been fundamental concerns of the HNBA from the beginning. Judicial appointments and political representation are also priorities of the HNBA.
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) - The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association is the United States' only national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students, providing a national network for its members and affiliates. Through its network of committees, NAPABA is in the forefront of national and local activities in the areas of civil rights reform, combating anti-immigrant backlash and hate crimes, increasing the diversity of the Federal and State judiciaries, and professional development.
Organizations that provide students with general resources regarding the funding process (some sites also provide information on scholarships, fellowships, and grants):
www.aals.org (Association of American Law Schools)
www.ed.gov (U.S. Department of Education)
www.fafsa.ed.gov (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
www.finaid.org (The Smart StudentTM Guide to Financial Aid)
www.nalp.org (Information on legal employment)
www.napil.org (National Association for Public Interest Law)
www.lsac.org (The Law School Admissions Council)
www.abanet.org (American Bar Association)
External Resources and Links for International Law Students
The Association of International Educators provides planning and funding sources information for foreign nationals who wish to study in the US.
