We realize that financing a legal education is of great concern to many prospective and admitted students. We encourage you to review the types of aid available for financing your legal education.
Review Process & Timeline
Gift Aid Sources
Responding to a Gift Aid Offer
Your Financial Aid Package
Interaction With Alumni and Donors
Deferring Gift Aid
Review & Timeline
How to Apply for Gift Aid at Berkeley Law
Berkeley Law offers a range of gift aid opportunities, including grants, scholarships, and fellowships, primarily awarded as three-year commitments before the start of your program. While there is limited funding for Continuing Student Scholarships, prospective J.D. program applicants can enhance their chances of receiving gift aid by submitting a comprehensive admissions application. Below are the specific criteria considered during the gift aid review process:
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Prepare a Strong Admissions Application:
- Make your admissions application as robust as possible.
- Consider self-identifying for specific scholarships by completing the Scholarships Section of the J.D. admissions application and submitting any required supplemental materials.
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Special Scholarships:
- Some scholarships require additional steps. Follow the instructions included in the J.D. Admissions application carefully.
- Deadlines must be adhered to, particularly for the Berkeley Law Opportunity Scholarship and Public Interest Scholarship (due by December 15th).
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Post-Admission Process:
- Approximately one week following admission, you will receive an invitation to submit the Supplemental Gift Aid application (SGA).
- The SGA primarily considers financial obstacles you have overcome or are overcoming, impacting your overall gift aid offer.
- Early application submission is advisable, especially for funding with a financial need component.
- While the SGA is optional, we encourage all admitted students to submit it. The information in your admissions application will still be used, but to be considered for financial need, the SGA must be submitted.
- The gift aid review process is holistic, ensuring that both your admissions application and the SGA (if submitted) are considered for the gift aid award offer.
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Special Considerations:
- Students admitted through the Binding Early Decision program can submit the SGA from December.
- Deferred admission students from the prior year will receive invitations to submit the SGA as early as January.
By following these steps and deadlines, you maximize your chances of securing gift aid to support your academic journey at Berkeley Law.
Annual Reapplication for Awards at Berkeley Law
Do you need to reapply for financial aid each year? Here’s what you need to know:
Automatic Renewal:
- Eligibility for most awards is established before your first year at Berkeley Law.
- Awards are typically renewed automatically for a total of three years (six semesters), assuming full-time enrollment.
- Note: Students in dual or concurrent degree programs may have a limit of five semesters for gift aid eligibility.
- This streamlined process of not requiring annual reapplication enables students to plan their financial strategy for the entire three-year JD program.
- While initial eligibility for need-based aid undergoes verification, summer earnings do not impact these awards.
Continuing Student Scholarship Application:
- Continuing students have the opportunity to submit the Continuing Student scholarship application during the summers after their 1L and 2L years.
- This allows for additional consideration beyond the automatic renewal process.
External Scholarships:
- You are encouraged to proactively seek external (outside) scholarships before your 1L year and continue exploring opportunities throughout your studies at Berkeley Law.
By providing this information, Berkeley Law aims to simplify the financial aid process and support students in planning for their academic journey.
What does Berkeley Law use to determine gift aid offers?
When reviewing a candidate for gift aid, we conduct a comprehensive review of the following factors:
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In general, the awards range from $15,000 – $75,000 ($5,000 – $25,000 per year). Gift aid offers that far exceed this amount are possible but exceedingly rare.
How and when will I be notified?
Gift aid award recipients will be notified by e-mail. You may receive a gift aid offer as early as one month after being admitted, but not before December 15. Your admissions application (and supplemental gift aid application if submitted within 30 days of being admitted) will be considered when determining your gift aid offer. While you will be notified via e-mail of any gift aid offer from us, offers will not be viewable on CalCentral until late March/early April, which is before the deadline to submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR).
Unfortunately, there are more qualified admitted students than gift aid available. If you have not received a gift aid offer by March 30, then you should assume that we were not able to make you a gift aid offer. We encourage you to apply through the reconsideration process. Please review the reconsideration form for instructions and deadlines.
As is always the case, students who have been awarded gift aid may withdraw the admission to attend other schools. We will re-award those funds through the reconsideration process which begins on March 20. Information about the gift aid reconsideration process can be found on the admitted student webpage (REQUIRES CALNET AUTHENTICATION). This page includes information about how and when to request reconsideration. Please read the instructions carefully.
Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee a specific decision date nor can we adapt our process to fit within the response deadlines of other law schools. If you have a pending offer at another law school that will not allow you to learn about offers from other schools, our best advice is to contact the other school directly and request an extension.
Does Berkeley Law offer need-based aid?
Yes. To be considered, be sure to submit the supplemental gift aid application (SGA). Berkeley Law provides need-based aid to J.D. students in an effort to decrease the potential debt burden incurred by students who have experienced or are experiencing extreme financial hardship. However, the scholarships, grants, and fellowships offered as a part of gift aid packages differ for each entering class, as do the specific criteria for those awards. Many are based on a combination of financial needs and merit. A few awards, such as the Berkeley Law Grant, are solely based on past or present severe financial hardship. Regardless of eligibility criteria, most gift aid awards we offer are renewable for all three years of your legal studies as we do not re-evaluate financial needs on an annual basis.
If you receive a gift aid offer from us, rest assured your financial need was considered so long as you completed the SGA by your deadline.
While a portion of a student’s gift aid award from Berkeley Law may include need-based aid, funding is made possible through donations to various scholarship and fellowship funds. It is for this reason that a student may see a total gift aid award offer instead of individual awards on an aid offer. While the total gift aid offer may ultimately be composed of a combination of named scholarships, grants, and fellowships, rest assured that, when you begin coursework, the total will be equal to what was promised to you in your gift aid offer.
Please be aware that each institution and school evaluate financial need differently. A school may choose to use a tool such as the FAFSA, CSS Profile, or its own internal application to determine what constitutes a ‘financial need.’ At Berkeley Law, the SGA in combination with your admissions application is our tool for reviewing past and recent financial obstacles you’ve overcome. Because of our unique, holistic means of evaluating financial needs, it is possible that you may receive a ‘need-based’ award from another institution and not from Berkeley Law, or vice versa.
What if I’m not offered gift aid or would like to be reconsidered?
Information about the gift aid reconsideration process can be found on the admitted student webpage (REQUIRES CALNET AUTHENTICATION). This page includes information about how and when to request reconsideration. Please read the instructions carefully.
Gift aid is only one component of formulating a strategy to attend law school. In general, our gift aid awards range from $15,000 – $75,000 ($5,000 – $25,000 per year). Gift aid offers that far exceed this amount are possible but exceedingly rare. We therefore strongly encourage applying for external scholarships, a list of which can be found on our Outside Agency scholarships webpage. Even without gift aid, those who submit the FAFSA and are eligible for federal student aid can expect to be offered federal student loans up to the Cost of Attendance. Information about all loan options, including private student loans, can be found on our Loans page.
Gift Aid Sources
Below are some examples of awards that may ultimately compose a gift aid offer. Awards and funding are evaluated annually.
Berkeley Law Dean’s Fellowship/Berkeley Law Grant
Awards are based on a combination of two or more factors such as academic merit, professional promise, leadership potential, commitment to a particular field, and/or financial need. See “What does Berkeley Law use to determine Gift Aid offers?”
Programmatic and Center Scholarships
- Berkeley Law Opportunity Scholarship (BLOS): This scholarship provides full tuition assistance for first-generation college graduates. Typically 10 students are selected for this scholarship each year.
- Public Interest Scholarship: This scholarship program supports students who are dedicated to public interest work and their award covers the full tuition and fees. Typically 10 students are selected for this scholarship each year.
- Berkeley Law & Society Scholars: This scholarship aims at students interested in domestic and international policy. That covers a wide variety of interests, including environmental and climate law, education law, and comparative legal studies.
- Berkeley Builders Fellowship: This fellowship focuses on students who are passionate about business and corporate law, including corporate sustainability, startup law, and entertainment and sports law.
- Berkeley Scholars in Law: This scholarship is designed for students who are planning to do one of three things: Design, conduct, and publish legal scholarship; seek work in an academic field that uses their legal training; or pursue a Ph.D. at the school or in another field as well as their J.D.
- Berkeley Justice Fellows: This fellowship is intended for students interested in social justice, including the spheres of civil rights, criminal justice, federal Indian or tribal law, reproductive justice, refugee and immigration law, and beyond.
- Berkeley Innovation Scholars: This is for students planning to study the intersection of law, technology, and society, from patent and intellectual property law to the regulation of emerging technologies.
- Leadership Academy: A $10,000 top-off award for promising leaders, with a programming and mentorship component.
- BCLB Scholarship: This scholarship was created to support law students with demonstrated financial needs who are interested in business law and/or the vision for the BCLB Scholars program. The award is $10,000 a year and can be combined with other gift aid, like Dean’s Fellowships. Up to 10 recipients are chosen per year.
- BCLT Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to students with demonstrated financial needs and/or those who are interested in tech and IP law and contributing to the mission of the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology (BCLT). The award is $10,000 a year and can be combined with other gift aid, like Dean’s Fellowships. Up to 10 recipients are chosen per year.
- HRC Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to students with demonstrated financial needs and/or those who are interested in human rights law and contributing to the mission of the Human Rights Center, which is to foster the beneficial and ethical advancement of technology by guiding the development of intellectual property law, information privacy law, and related areas of law and public policy as they interact with business, science, and technical innovation. The award is $10,000 a year and can be combined with other gift aid, like Dean’s Fellowships. Up to 8 students are selected per year.
- Henderson Center Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to students with demonstrated financial needs and/or those who are interested in social justice law and contributing to the mission of the Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice. In addition to financial support, you will also be welcomed into a small cohort of Scholars, who benefit from ongoing mentorship from the Henderson Center. The award is $10,000 a year and can be combined with other gift aid, like Dean’s Fellowships. Up to 10 students are selected per year.
- CLEE Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to students with demonstrated financial needs and/or those who are interested in environmental and energy law and contributing to the mission of the Center for Law, Energy & the Environment (CLEE). CLEE channels the expertise and creativity of the Berkeley Law community into pragmatic policy solutions to environmental and energy challenges. The award is $10,000 a year and can be combined with other gift aid, like Dean’s Fellowships. Up to 8 students are selected per year.
- CILJ Scholarship: This scholarship was launched in January 2024, and it is awarded to students with demonstrated financial needs and/or those who are interested in indigenous law and contributing to the mission of the Center for Indigenous Law & Justice (CILJ). The award is $10,000 a year and can be combined with other gift aid, like Dean’s Fellowships. Up to 5 recipients are chosen per year.
- Hyundai and Kia Scholarships: they are aimed at supporting high-achieving law students who demonstrate academic merit, leadership experience, and an interest in and commitment to the field of law and technology, especially in areas of law and policy relating to the automotive industry. The award is $10,000 a year and can be combined with other gift aid, like Dean’s Fellowships. Up to 2 students are chosen per year.
Graduate Division Scholarships
- Graduate Opportunity Program (GOP) Master’s Fellowship is available to students from a non-traditional educational background who demonstrate significant academic achievement by overcoming barriers such as economic, social, or educational disadvantage. Typically, 3 students are selected per year.
- Buxbaum Scholarship: Supporting law students who demonstrate a high level of academic distinction. Up to 2 students are chosen per year.
- John B. Hall Scholarship: Awarded to outstanding students with a demonstrated commitment to a career in the public interest or public service. Up to 2 students are chosen per year.
Donor-Based Scholarships
Through the generosity of our donors, Berkeley Law is able to offer a wide range of scholarships to support entering students. These donor-funded scholarships are awarded based on a combination of factors, including academic excellence, professional promise, leadership potential, dedication to specific fields, financial need, and other criteria. Below are examples of some of these scholarships:
- Berkeley Law Active Duty Military and Veterans Scholarship: This scholarship is to support active duty U.S. military and honorably discharged veterans.
- Sho & Masako F. Sato Fellowship: The award is made each year to a deserving entering student based on academic merit and financial need.
- Pahlke Trial Advocacy Scholarship: The award is made each year to an entering student with a demonstrated interest in civil or criminal trial advocacy and/or significant interest in participating in trial competitions in law school.
- Logan Harriet Scholarship: This award is made available to blind students who demonstrate financial need.
Responding to a Gift Aid Offer
Berkeley Law frowns upon the practice of making “exploding” aid offers. We will typically provide two weeks for you to consider your gift aid offer. We will never require a response before April 1.
Acceptance of gift aid requires that you both accept our admission offer and that you withdraw from all other schools where you have been admitted. We do not require that you withdraw from schools where you have not yet received a final admissions decision, for example, if you remain on a waitlist. In practice, we find that the process works best if you simply communicate with us what your situation is and request a deadline extension should you feel you need one. Extensions are not guaranteed, but we do want you to make as fully informed a decision about where to attend law school as possible. In fairness to all other award candidates who may be waiting for a decision or for more funds to become available, we ask that you respect this requirement.
Questions about responding to a gift aid offer should be directed via email to Admissions at admits@law.berkeley.edu.
Your Financial Aid Package
Gift aid is considered a financial aid resource and may reduce your need to borrow loans. The totality of any grants, scholarships, fellowships, loans, and work-study compose your “financial aid package.” If you have any questions about your overall aid package you should review the How to Apply section of the financial aid website (Entering student checklists and timeline) and review communications sent from the Berkeley Law Admissions Office. If you have questions that are unanswered, feel free to contact the Berkeley Law financial aid office at financial-aid-law@berkeley.edu.
Interaction With Alumni and Donors
The Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) office may ask students to provide information about their law school experience as part of their stewardship of the donors. Being able to communicate to donors about the impact of their giving is crucial for ensuring that these important sources of financial aid continue to grow. It is the best way for the school to demonstrate gratitude for the donors’ generosity. There may also be formal opportunities to interact with alumni donors or to share your story with writers for the school magazine, Transcript, or website. Participation in such activities is voluntary. In addition, DAR can facilitate a meeting for students who are interested in interacting with the donors behind their scholarships or even just learning more about them.
Deferring Gift Aid
Requests for admission deferments must be directed to the Office of J.D. Admissions. In general, gift aid deferments are rare and depend on the nature of the request and the circumstances that require it. If you have been offered gift aid and are requesting deferment, please contact the admissions office.