Law Financial Aid

The Office of Law Financial Aid is committed to providing all law students financial aid assistance to keep you informed and explore all funding opportunities and resources.  

USF ID Number

In order to better assist law students and reply to your financial aid inquiries in a timely manner, please be sure to include your USF ID Number in any email inquiries to the Law Financial Aid Office.  In addition, any requests to update your financial aid record should come directly from your USF email account. We cannot process any requests for assistance sent from your personal email accounts.

Law Financial Aid Walk-in, Appointments (In-Person, Virtual)

The Law School’s Financial Aid Office is taking the necessary measures to implement and improve our customer service strategies. We want you to have the best experience with our office so we would like to provide information on new changes to our customer service support methods. 

Our office will be available for in-person visits and appointments as well as virtual appointments. Getting in-person assistance is easy.

You can schedule an appointment on the following methods below:

1.    Text USFDonsLAW to 415-914-9982 then text the code for the type of service you wish to receive help with.
2. Day-to-day appointment. Make an appointment online through the Home Kiosk.   Enter your Name and phone number.
3.    Future virtual Appointments (24 hours and later) Here.

Summer 2024 Financial Aid

Information on applying for Summer 2024 Financial Aid can be found online.  Once your registered for Summer 2024 class (registration begins on March 25, 2024), submit a Summer 2024 Intent to Enroll (ITE) online form to notify Law Financial Aid of your intent to apply for summer aid. You can obtain the form ONLINE. The Summer 2024 ITE online form will be due on April 1.  The Summer ITE online form can still be submitted after April 1 and will be processed and monitored accordingly. However, we cannot guarantee that any forms submitted after April 1 will be processed in time to meet the May 1 Summer tuition payment deadline but we will do our best.  Please note that students on Academic Probation are ineligible to receive Summer financial aid until Spring grades are all posted in mid-June and you regain good academic standing.  We cannot process ITE online forms for students on probation until you return to good standing.
 

2024-2025 FAFSA Simplification Changes

The FAFSA Simplification Act is bringing significant changes and overhaul to the processes and systems to award federal student aid. This includes the FAFSA form, need analysis, and many policies and procedures. This change also impacts the CA Dream Act and awarding of state aid. Traditionally, both the FAFSA and CA Dream Act applications open on October 1st. However, due to these changes, the 2024-2025 FAFSA and CA Dream Act will open in December 31, 2023. Learn more.

Applying for Financial Aid/FAFSA Application for Fall 2024/Spring 2025

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA, for the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 academic year is now available online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.  All students who wish to receive financial aid for the 2024-25 academic year are required to complete the new 2024-25 FAFSA at www.studentaid.gov.  Our Title IV code is 001325 and must be included in your FAFSA application.  

Financial Aid award notification for the Fall 2024/Spring 2025 will begin in early May for current students who have completed a 2024-25 FAFSA as long as the 2024-25 FAFSA is completed and USF receives your FAFSA information by the priority date March 1, 2024. Award information will be available to view online via your myUSF student portal. You will be sent an email notification at that time by the Law Financial Aid Office indicating that you can review your financial aid award online via your myUSF online student portal.

IMPORTANT: The 2024-25 FAFSA can be completed after March 1 priority deadline, and you will still be able to receive federal educational loan aid for this year. However, delaying completing your FAFSA will affect when you receive your award notice.  The FAFSA should be completed as soon as possible in order to receive the maximum financial aid consideration for 2024-25.

The FAFSA should be completed as soon as possible but no later than the priority date was March 1, 2023 in order to receive the maximum financial aid consideration for 2023-24 (this date is especially important for those continuing students who wish to be considered for the Federal Work Study award).
 

Bar Loan Information 

December 2023 or Spring 2024 graduating students can apply for private bar loans to help with living expenses during the February 2024 or the July 2024 bar preparation period. These loans are private lender loans subject to credit approval. Information is available at the Law Financial Aid Office or online at: 
https://www.usfca.edu/law/admissions/tuition-aid/jd/types-of-aid/loan-programs/bar-examination-loans  
 

Upcoming Private Scholarship Deadlines   

MPOWER and La Unidad Latina Foundation (DACA/International Students)
We’re looking to fund students with high potential as a leader and advocate. In recognition of the extraordinary potential of these students, we’ve created the MPOWER Global Citizen Scholarship. We’ve intentionally designed this scholarship program to be as broad as possible to match the broad, diverse experiences of international students. There’s no requirement to be an MPOWER borrower to apply!
Deadline: April 30, 2024
Amount: $2,000 - $10,000

Earl Warren Shearman & Sterling Scholarship
Earl Warren Shearman & Sterling Scholarships are two special stipends for African-American law students. The scholarship is sponsored by Shearman & Sterling, a large commercial law firm with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and several foreign locations. Recipients are assigned attorney-mentors from the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) and from Shearman & Sterling, and gain experience working with LDF on issues related to civil rights and public interest law.
Deadline: May 1, 2024
Amount: $15,000

NW Corporate Law Scholarship
NW Corporate Law scholarship will be awarded to one second or third year law student who is in financial need and who is actively enrolled in an ABA-approved law school.
Deadline: May 1, 2024
Amount: $1,000

Trial Advocacy Law Student Scholarship
Open to all AAJ Law Student Members who are entering their second or third year of law school, this $3,000 scholarship is awarded to the applicant who best demonstrates a commitment to AAJ and its mission, a desire to represent victims, interest and skill in trial advocacy, and financial need.
Deadline: May 1, 2024
Amount: $3,000

Leesfied Law Student Scholarship
Sponsored by AAJ and AAJ member Ira Leesfield, this scholarship awards $1,500 to a first- or second-year law student and is to help subsidize the Law Student Member's attendance at AAJ’s Annual Convention.  AAJ's Annual Convention is a wonderful opportunity for law students to build the foundation for success as a trial lawyer.
Deadline: May 1, 2024
Amount: $1,500

2024 Salle Yoo and Jeff Gray Summer Grants, the Garrick S. Lew Criminal Defense Fellowship, and the Justice Harry W. Low Fellowship
AABA recognizes the importance of fostering the growth of law students to improve the future development of the Asian Pacific American bar. AABA will award scholarships to deserving law students who are committed to advocating and improving their communities. The AABA Law Foundation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation dedicated to serving the community and law students through its Foundation Scholarship awards.
Deadline: May 15, 2024
Amount: $15,000

OVC Scholarship Program
At OVC, INC., we provide online marketing services for attorneys and law firms, helping them connect with the people who need their assistance. We value our relationships with the lawyers we serve, and we appreciate the dedication that goes into earning a law degree, establishing and growing a legal practice, and providing quality legal representation to people in need. With our “Market Yourself” Scholarship, we aim to support future lawyers in their pursuit of higher education. The OVC, INC. “Market Yourself” Scholarship offers $1,000 to current or aspiring law students who can demonstrate a clear vision as to how they would position themselves to most effectively connect with the clients they want to serve. The award can be used for tuition and other educational expenses at the school they attend.
Deadline: May 27, 2024
Amount: $1,000

Bay Area Minority Law Student Scholarship Program
Our scholarship program was established in 1998 in response to the passage of SP-1, the University of California Regents’ resolution to end affirmative action and race-based admissions at UC schools. In twenty one years, we have awarded over 2 million dollars in scholarships to 110 students with scholarships that are generally $10,000 per year.
Deadline: May 31, 2024
Amount: $10,000

Jan Jancin Competition
The Jan Jancin Awards are merit-based scholarship awards that recognize rising second and third year law students from diverse backgrounds who are underrepresented racial or ethnic minorities, who have expressed an interest in pursuing a career as an IP lawyer, and who have engaged in activities reflecting that interest.
Deadline: May 31, 2024
Amount: $5,000

Funk & Associates Law Student Scholarship
Funck & Assiciates is dedicated to helping the next generation of attorneys reach their goals.  Applicants should be enrolled in an accredited US law school and have completed at least ONE year of legal studies. The winner will have to prove academic eligibility and a transcript showing the completion of their first year of legal studies. The winner of the scholarship agrees that his/her essay may be posted on the Funk & Associates website for an unlimited duration.
Deadline: June 15, 2024
Amount: $500


Enjuris Future Lawyer Scholarship
At Enjuris, we understand that law school costs are extraordinarily high (some of us are still struggling to repay our student loans). To help make the lives of hard-working law students a little easier, we’re awarding a $1,000 scholarship to a current law student for law school expenses (tuition, books, etc.).
Deadline: July 1, 2024
Amount: $1,000

Keith M. Fletcher Excellence in Ethics Scholarship
For law students and prospective law students, Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. is excited to offer our annual Excellence in Ethics Scholarship. The first-place scholarship will be awarded to one recipient in the amount of $1,000.00. The second-place winner will be awarded a $500.00 scholarship as well.
Deadline: July 1, 2024
Amount: $500 - $1,000

The Child of Divorce Scholarship
This scholarship is for a current or incoming law student who has demonstrated a high degree of determination and perseverance despite the hurdles they may have encountered earlier in life due to parental divorce or estrangement. The Child of Divorce Scholarship is available to students presently enrolled in a program of study at an undergraduate or graduate institution located within the United States. Candidates should have the ability to articulate the ways in which they were able to overcome personal difficulties resulting from divorce within the family while also maintaining a strong commitment to bettering the world around them. Interested candidates are required to provide evidence of good standing from their current educational institution and submit proof of a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.0.
Deadline: July 1, 2024
Amount: $1,000

Wlaso/ Women Lawyers Association of San Luis Obispo County
The Women Lawyers Association of San Luis Obispo County offers up to $750 in scholarship awards to students who are: 1) presently enrolled or accepted for enrollment in law school, and 2) have a demonstrable connection to San Luis Obispo County. 
Deadline: July 1, 2024
Amount: Varies

Clark Law Group Scholarship
As a legal firm that dedicates its time and resources to the fields of family law and personal injury, we regularly work with clients who are facing extremely challenging obstacles. It is because of this experience that our firm has become so passionate about extending a helping hand to our community.  Our Clark Law Group Scholarship provides a $1,000 award each semester to a student whose parent is actively serving or previously served in the United States military. We are honored to support families of military service members.  Our scholarship is limited for use to help with tuition, books, room and board, and other educational expenses.
Deadline: July 2, 2024
Amount: $1,000

John Dalton Diversity Scholarship
We are pleased to announce The Law Office of John Dalton Diversity Scholarship for 2023. The Law Office of John Dalton Diversity Scholarship promotes diversity within the profession for Black/African American, Hispanic, Native North American, and Pacific Islander students. The scholarship will award $1000 to a law school student. Applicants must be currently enrolled or accepted in an accredited law school in the United States.
Deadline: July 15, 2024
Amount: $1,000