The Diversity Scholarship seeks to support newly admitted law students from groups historically underrepresented in the legal profession who have committed to attend a California law school. Candidates apply for the Scholarship at the beginning of the summer prior to commencing their law school studies. The Scholarship helps pay the costs of obtaining a law school education, including tuition, fees, books, and related education expenses. Awards of up to $7,500 recognize incoming first year law students with financial need who demonstrate a desire to make a positive impact as a community leader.

The Diversity Scholarship is awarded in the fall of 2008 for the 2008-2009 academic year. The 2008 Application Deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, 2008.

Criteria

1. Candidate must be:
   • Accepted and have committed to enroll in a California law school at the time of submitting a Diversity Scholarship Application; and
   • Be enrolled at that California law school in the 2008-2009 academic year.

2. Candidate must self-identify as being from a racial or ethnic group that historically has been underrepresented in the legal profession.

3. Candidate must demonstrate financial need.

4. Candidate must be committed to making an impact in the community through leadership.

5. Candidate must submit two current letters of recommendation (letters may be copies of letters submitted with Candidate's law school applications). Letters may be sent to the Foundation directly or provided with Candidate's Diversity Scholarship Application. If possible, at least one letter should address Candidate's leadership qualities and/or community involvement.

6. Candidates are not nominated by their law school and should send application materials directly to the Foundation by the Application Deadline.

7. Candidates from online law schools must be California residents.

8. Candidate must submit all documentation listed in the 2008 Diversity Scholarship Application Checklist.

Instructions

1. All portions of the Application must be received by the Foundation by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 (the "Application Deadline"). Attachments, letters of recommendation, and law school documents may be submitted separately, but must also be received by the Application Deadline.

2. Applications may be submitted by mail, delivery service, or fax to:

   Diversity Scholarship Program
   California Bar Foundation
   180 Howard Street
   San Francisco, CA 94105
   Fax: (415) 856-0788
   

3. Applications postmarked by the Application Deadline but not received in full by the Application Deadline will not be accepted.

4. All documents submitted in association with Candidate's Application for the Diversity Scholarship, including letters of recommendation, should include the name of Candidate on the upper right-hand corner of each page.

5. See the Application Checklist for a complete list of required documentation that must be submitted.

1. Diversity Scholarship Recipients must:
   • Attend a reception and luncheon in their honor, which is currently scheduled for Thursday, September 25, 2008, in Monterey and held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the State Bar of California. The Foundation will provide stipends to help cover the travel costs of attending this event. Failure to attend may result in forfeiture of Recipient's Diversity Scholarship, without notice.
   • Provide the Foundation, in a timely fashion, contact information for every date between the Application Deadline and the date of the Scholarship Reception and Luncheon. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of Recipient's Diversity Scholarship, without notice.
   • Report back to the Foundation on the progress of their legal education at the end of their first year of law school.

2. Diversity Scholarship Recipients will be requested to provide a recent digital photograph of themselves upon receiving notification of their award. Please do not send photos with Application.

3. The Foundation reserves the right to use information from Applications and letters of recommendation as part of its publicity of Diversity Scholarship Recipients.

4. Diversity Scholarship Award Recipients receiving named scholarships may be asked to contact donors supporting their scholarships.