2026 Spring Essay Scholarship

Funder: Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago (BWLA-SF)

Geographic Scope: Chicagoland area and demonstrated connection to Chicago legal market

Focus Areas: Legal education and career advancement for Black law students

Eligibility:

• Must be of Black or African descent
• Attend an ABA-accredited law school in the Chicagoland area OR have demonstrated present or future connection to the Chicago legal market
• Complete and sign the application, including answering all application questions
• Demonstrate commitment to public service or diversity (evidenced by current leadership or participation in community service or outreach)
• Have unmet financial needs
• Supply official transcript and letter of good standing from school's registrar

Selection Criteria:

• Professionalism of application materials
• Commitment to public service and diversity
• Professional and academic achievement
• Unmet financial need
• BWLA involvement
• Applications with excessive typographical and/or grammatical errors may be disqualified

Application Process

1. Format Requirements:
   • Application must be typewritten and converted to PDF
   • Combine application with ALL supporting documentation into ONE PDF file
   • Letter of good standing or transcript may be sent directly from law school depending on institution's policies
   • Applications submitted in other formats or as multiple PDF files will not be considered
2. Submission:
   • Email completed application and documentation to: scholarship@bwla.org
   • Include application form and all supporting materials in single PDF (except transcripts/letters of good standing which may come directly from school)
3. Required Materials:
   • Completed and signed application
   • Official transcript
   • Letter of good standing from school's registrar
   • Responses to all application questions