Scholarships

The BALIF Foundation is offering a Pride Fellowship in the amount of $5,000 for a law student currently working on legal issues impacting the LGBTQIA Community during the summer of 2025.  An applicant must identify the proposed use of the fellowship funds, be sponsored by an existing tax exempt organization or government agency with attorneys qualified, willing and able to supervise the work.  The full requirements are in the attached application.  

The application is open now through July 1, 2025.  Applications should be submitted by email to jason.kort@us.dlapiper.com and lmcmahon@legalaidmarin.org

**APPLICATION SUBMISSION FOR THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS NOW OPEN**

The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley (“APABA Silicon Valley”) Charity Foundation and the Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom Foundation (“BALIF Foundation”) are pleased to announce a special joint scholarship for law students who have a demonstrated commitment to the Asian American and Pacific Islander (“AAPI”) and LGBTQI communities.

PURPOSE: To recognize law students in the greater Bay Area who have shown excellence and achievement in law school and have:

Overcome personal hardships or challenges; 

Shown excellence and achievement in law school; 

Demonstrated leadership potential and a history of involvement with AAPI and LGBTQI student, professional, or civic organizations; and

Demonstrated service in support of their local AAPI and LGBTQI communities.

AWARD: One (1) joint scholarship of $5,000.

Click here for the application

BALIF has partnered with the Litigation Section of the California Lawyers Association (“CLA”) to present a scholarship for those who have demonstrated an intent to pursue a career in litigation, have shown commitment to serving the LGBTQAI+ community, and are planning to take the California Bar Exam.

PURPOSE: To recognize a law student in their final year of law school who will take the California Bar Exam, has shown excellence and achievement in law school, and has:

• Overcome personal hardships or challenges;
• Has a demonstrated financial need (preference will also be given to students who do not already have bar study expenses covered);
• Demonstrated intent to pursue a career in litigation following graduation;
• Demonstrated leadership potential and a history of involvement with LGBTQAI+ student, professional, and/or civic organizations; and
• Demonstrated service in support of their local LGBTQAI+ communities & commitment to social justice.

AWARD: A minimum scholarship of $2500, as determined by the selection committee.

APPLICATION: Please send a brief 3-5 paragraph explaining why you are deserving of this scholarship 

ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS:

• Scholarship recipients should plan to attend the BALIF Annual Gala on March 7, 2025.
• Become a Student Member of BALIF ( sign up here), if not already.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to become members of the Litigation Section of CLA after passing the California Bar Exam and securing full-time employment.
• Applicant must be planning to sit for the California Bar and use the scholarship for bar study/exam expenses within 9 months.
• Please note that applicants may only receive one bar study scholarship sponsored by the CLA Litigation Section. If you have already received one from another bar association, you are not eligible to apply.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: All applications must be received by 11:59 PM on Thursday, February 27, 2025. Please email your application to newlawyers@balif.org and balif@balif.org. 

The Julius Turman Award will be granted by the BALIF Foundation to one law student each year who has shown outstanding commitment to advocacy for LGBTQI+ individuals. 

The recipient must be currently a member of BALIF, enrolled at a Bay Area Law School, identify somewhere on the LGBTQI+ spectrum, and awardee will be recognized at the BALIF Gala at the Julia Morgan Ballroom on March 7, 2025. The Award will be administered annually by a committee composed of members of the BALIF Foundation directors. 

The Award will include a monetary stipend (up to $1,500) to be used in support of attending Lavender Law or another appropriate conference or purpose (as identified by the award recipient and award committee). 

Nominations must be received by February 14, 2025. Finalists for the Julius Turman Award may be invited to participate in an interview in mid-February.

*Please note you can nominate yourself.

Law School Award 2025 Application-2.pdf

BALIF Foundation invites all LGBTQI law student associations in the Bay Area to apply for BALIF Foundation’s annual “Law Student Association of the Year” award.  

Each year, the award is presented to a Bay Area law student group that has demonstrated a unique level of commitment to serving the LGBTQI community at its law school and in its community.

The selected law school association will win a cash prize of $1000 and will be recognized at the BALIF Annual Gala to be held on Friday, March 7, 2025 at the Julia Morgan Ballroom. (www.balif.org)

We look forward to receipt of your application for the 2025 award.

Applications Due: February 14, 2025 by 5pm

**APPLICATION SUBMISSION FOR THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS NOW OPEN**

The FBANC Foundation and the Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom Foundation (“BALIF Foundation”) are sponsoring the FBANC/BALIF “Pamilya” Joint Scholarship in the amount of $3,000 to a current law school student who has a demonstrated commitment to the Filipinx American and LGBTQI communities. Learn about past scholarship recipients here.

Click here to apply.

**APPLICATION SUBMISSION FOR THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS NOW OPEN**

The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley (“APABA Silicon Valley”) Charity Foundation and the Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom Foundation (“BALIF Foundation”) are pleased to announce a special joint scholarship for law students who have a demonstrated commitment to the Asian American and Pacific Islander (“AAPI”) and LGBTQI communities.

PURPOSE: To recognize law students in the greater Bay Area who have shown excellence and achievement in law school and have:

Overcome personal hardships or challenges; 

Shown excellence and achievement in law school; 

Demonstrated leadership potential and a history of involvement with AAPI and LGBTQI student, professional, or civic organizations; and

Demonstrated service in support of their local AAPI and LGBTQI communities.

AWARD: One (1) joint scholarship of $5,000.

The BALIF Foundation is offering a Pride Fellowship in the amount of $5,000 for a law student currently working on legal issues impacting the LGBTQIA Community during the summer of 2024.  An applicant must identify the proposed use of the fellowship funds, be sponsored by an existing tax exempt organization or government agency with attorneys qualified, willing and able to supervise the work.  The full requirements are in the attached application.  

The application is open now through April 5, 2024.  Applications should be submitted by email to Ashley@gobolaw.com.

Click here for the application.

The BALIF Foundation has teamed up with ChangeLawyers to offer a $5,000 bar stipend for a 3L.  The bar stipend will be awarded to:

Aspiring lawyers who identify as LGBTQ+; has a demonstrated commitment to the Bay Area (attendance at a Bay Area law school, an intent to practice law in the Bay Area, or current or past residency in the Bay Area); and has interest in supporting and empowering LGBTQ equality, access to justice, and diversity within the legal community and on the bench.

The application is open now through March 4, 2024 at: https://californiachangelawyers.submittable.com/submit/287276/2024-california-changelawyers-3l-next-gen-scholarship

BALIF has partnered with the Litigation Section of the California Lawyers Association (“CLA”) to present a scholarship for those who have demonstrated an intent to pursue a career in litigation, have shown commitment to serving the LGBTQAI+ community, and are planning to take the California Bar Exam.

PURPOSE: To recognize a law student in their final year of law school who will take the California Bar Exam, has shown excellence and achievement in law school, and has:

• Overcome personal hardships or challenges;
• Has a demonstrated financial need (preference will also be given to students who do not already have bar study expenses covered);
• Demonstrated intent to pursue a career in litigation following graduation;
• Demonstrated leadership potential and a history of involvement with LGBTQAI+ student, professional, and/or civic organizations; and
• Demonstrated service in support of their local LGBTQAI+ communities & commitment to social justice.

AWARD: A minimum scholarship of $2500, as determined by the selection committee.

APPLICATION: Please send a brief 3-5 paragraph explaining why you are deserving of this scholarship 

ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS:

• Scholarship recipients should plan to attend the BALIF Annual Gala on March 1, 2024.
• Become a Student Member of BALIF (free of charge - sign up here), if not already.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to become members of the Litigation Section of CLA after passing the California Bar Exam and securing full-time employment.
• Applicant must be planning to sit for the California Bar and use the scholarship for bar study/exam expenses within 9 months.
• Please note that applicants may only receive one bar study scholarship sponsored by the CLA Litigation Section. If you have already received one from another bar association, you are not eligible to apply.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: All applications must be received by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Please email your application to chair@balif.org and balif@balif.org.