Center-Related Scholarships

Photograph: Student taking advantage of the many research tools available at the Washburn Law Library.The Centers for Excellence at Washburn University School of Law represent the law world as it really is and offer students opportunities to meet and work with accomplished lawyers, judges, and business leaders whose law foundations were built at Washburn Law.

Each of our three Centers offers scholarship and/or fellowship opportunities for students with special interest in a Center-related discipline and who embrace the idea of a collaborative, hands-on learning experience.

Business and Transactional Law Center Scholarship

This scholarship is designed for students who have a particular interest in the transactional side of law practice, which includes drafting documents, structuring deals, and the negotiation and client counseling associated with these activities. The scholarship is also designed for those students who may have a special interest in using their law degree in their own business or non-profit endeavors or to represent others seeking to operate as a for-profit or not-for-profit organization.

Awards include a maximum scholarship of $15,000 a year (depending upon academic credentials) for three years, which will provide for a significant portion of resident tuition.

Who should apply? Students who have a special interest in business law or transactional law.

Center for Excellence in Advocacy

This scholarship was created for students with a desire and passion to advocate for others in trial and appellate practice. Successful scholarship applicants should embrace a thriving partnership for success built on the energy and loyalty of some of the most supportive law alumni in the country, the active involvement of experienced law professors focused on teaching lawyering skills, and their own enthusiastic participation in all stages of law school training.

Awards include a maximum scholarship of $15,000 a year (depending upon academic credentials) for three years, which will provide for a significant portion of resident tuition.

Who should apply? Students with a special interest in a broad range of advocacy-related fields of law. In addition, individuals with a background and interest in mock trial competition are encouraged to apply for this scholarship.

Child and Family Advocacy Fellowship

To meet the need for lawyers trained in an interdisciplinary environment to provide effective representation for children and their families, Washburn Law established the Children and Family Law Center.

Washburn offers Children and Family Law Fellowships to students intending to pursue careers in child and family advocacy. Awards include a maximum scholarship of $14,000 a year (depending upon academic credentials) for three years, which will provide for a significant portion of resident tuition, and one $3,000 summer externship stipend.

The fellowship includes practical family law and child advocacy work experience. Students who receive the fellowship are required to complete an eight-week summer externship, approved by the director, after the second year of law school. The externship is supported by a fellowship stipend to cover living expenses. Externships include work with legal services, as well as work on behalf of abused or neglected children; alleged juvenile delinquents; runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth; foster children whose educational needs are not being met; and indigent parents involved in family court matters.

Who should apply? Students intending to pursue careers in child and family advocacy.

How to Apply

To apply for one of these awards, submit a one- to two-paragraph description of your interest, background and/or qualifications as they relate to one of these specific areas. Attach this description with your application to Washburn Law. You will be automatically considered for the awards upon admission.

Photograph: Washburn Law student in class.