Funding from outside Harvard Law School is an excellent way to finance your education while reducing total borrowing. We consider “outside resources” to be assistance awarded from outside HLS Student Financial Services, such as private grants and scholarships, fellowships, veterans benefits or other military education benefits, AmeriCorps benefits, etc.
There is typically a high correlation between the amount of effort spent seeking outside funding and the likelihood of securing it. We recommend that you start by looking closely at organizations with which you and your family are already connected. This may include religious or civic organizations, local law firms, parents’ employers, unions, secondary schools, or the U.S. Military. Many organizations award merit or need-based scholarships to affiliated students. Current students can also log into the HLS Office of Career Services job database to find law firm scholarship opportunities for students.
Additionally, HLS’s partner institute AccessLex holds regular lotteries through which scholarships can be won.
Outside Scholarships Effect on Need-Based Grant and Borrowing Allocations
HLS JD students receiving outside scholarships typically do not see an impact to the amount of need-based grant aid they receive. Rather, outside scholarships only impact the amount a student is eligible to borrow in student loans for the academic year in question. For example, a student receiving an outside scholarship for $5,000 would not see a change to their HLS Grant, but that $5,000 would reduce the student’s borrowing eligibility by the same amount. In the rare occurrence that a student’s budget had an excess of grant resources, the HLS JD Grant would then have to be reduced in order to comply with federal regulations, to maintain that all aid remains within the student’s cost of attendance.
Note that employer scholarships, stipends, and fellowships that are tied to students’ earned income and disbursed via paystubs are considered as income and not as outside scholarships.
Harvard University Restricted Scholarships
Harvard University (not Harvard Law School) has a pool of University-wide restricted scholarships that are awarded each year to current students from around the University by a nomination process. The nominations for HLS students are coordinated by SFS and usually begin in February of each academic year for awards to be disbursed in the following academic year. Students will receive notification via email when the process begins, and are invited to look over the various restricted scholarships available to determine if they might meet the qualifications of any of these funds.
Detailed information about these University Restricted Scholarships is available on the Committee on General Scholarships Web Site. With respect to HLS financial aid policy, Harvard University Restricted Scholarship Funds are considered to be outside resources, meaning they do not impact need-based grant eligibility.
Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowship
Harvard Law School is allowed to nominate one candidate for this fellowship to be considered among the larger Harvard University community, and then through a national search. The fellowship will cover the cost of tuition for the 2027-2028 academic year, and includes a stipend for living expenses.
Eligibility for the fellowship is as follows:
Applications for consideration are open to students who are currently enrolled in and pursuing a full-time graduate degree at Harvard University. Application criteria include the following:
- The program of study being pursued by the candidate may include any recognized field of study in
the humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences (including law, medicine, engineering, architecture,
or other formal professional training). The selection committee has a strong preference for
supporting scholarly endeavors. - Candidates must have received a baccalaureate degree and have an outstanding undergraduate record.
- Candidates must be U.S. citizens.
- Candidates must demonstrate a need for financial assistance.
- Candidates may be of any national descent or background.
Information and application material requirements can be found within the listed PDF documents. All fully completed applications must be submitted to the SFS Office by January 8, 2027 to be considered.