Navigating Public Interest Scholarships and Bar Prep Requirements

Embarking on a career in public interest law is a commendable path, but it often comes with financial challenges, especially when preparing for the bar exam. Fortunately, several resources and scholarships are available to alleviate these burdens. This article explores various public interest scholarship programs, with a focus on BARBRI's offerings, and outlines requirements and opportunities for aspiring public interest lawyers.

Bar Prep Matching Programs

Several programs connect public interest-bound students with firm-bound students who can provide them with a free bar prep course. For example, the Center for Public Service’s Bar Prep Matching Program does just that. These programs often involve bar prep companies "gifting" courses, eliminating tuition costs for public interest students, though they may still need to cover fees for materials and shipping.

Eligibility for Gifting and Receiving Courses

Firm-bound students who qualify to gift a prep course:
- BarBri: Students enrolled in BarBri courses directly by their law firms may qualify, depending on the package the firm has purchased.
- Kaplan: Any student who enrolls in Kaplan’s Convenience package is eligible.
- Themis: Any student whose firm is paying full, regular Themis tuition. (Tuition can be paid directly by the student’s firm or paid by the student and reimbursed by the firm; however, students who are provided a stipend from their firm for bar review do not qualify).
Public interest bound students who qualify to receive a course:
- BarBri: Students who will earn $75,000 or less in government, non-profit/legal aid, judicial clerkship, or other public interest jobs.
- Kaplan: Public Interest is defined by a broad range of activities. Public Interest lawyers work to effect change in social policies for the public interest, on 'not for profit' terms, or to represent poor or marginalized people. Instead of serving the interests of private clients or economic interests, Public Interest lawyers advocate for otherwise under-represented or vulnerable individuals and communities to protect the rights, health, or finances of the public at large.
- Themis: Students with a history of public interest work in law school and stated intent to pursue public interest work.

These programs often have specific deadlines. For instance, for Themis Cares, the deadline was October 31, 2025. While matching is not guaranteed, these programs strive to connect as many students as possible.

BARBRI Public Interest Scholarships

BARBRI demonstrates a commitment to supporting aspiring lawyers who choose careers serving the public. They offer a limited number of public interest scholarships for select BARBRI Bar Review courses, awarding around $4.5 million in scholarships annually.

Eligibility for BARBRI Public Interest Scholarship

To qualify for a BARBRI Public Interest Scholarship, applicants must:

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Be employed or committed to being employed in the public interest sector.
Have an annual salary less than $75,000.
Not be billing a firm or third party for tuition.

If circumstances change after receiving the scholarship, BARBRI reserves the right to rescind the discount.

BARBRI Alumni Scholarship

BARBRI also offers exclusive discounts for alumni preparing for another state's bar exam, acknowledging their loyalty and continued trust in the program. To qualify for the BARBRI Alumni Scholarship, you must:

Have previously been a BARBRI Bar Review learner
Be planning to take another bar exam in a different state

Additional Funding Options for Bar Prep

Besides scholarships, several other funding options can help manage the cost of bar preparation:

Financing with Affirm

Affirm offers a flexible way to manage BARBRI Bar Review tuition by breaking it down into manageable monthly payments. The process involves a real-time eligibility check that doesn't affect your credit score. Affirm presents loan options with transparent terms, including monthly payments, APR, and total cost.

Custom BARBRI Payment Plan

A custom BARBRI payment plan provides a straightforward, interest-free way to manage tuition payments directly with BARBRI. This plan requires an initial deposit, followed by installment payments, with the total tuition paid before the course begins. No credit check is required, and no interest is applied.

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Employer Billing

Many law students with post-graduation employment can have their firm cover the cost of bar review. BARBRI has direct billing relationships with numerous law firms, making this a seamless option. Students simply select the option to bill their employer during enrollment.

External Scholarships for Law Students

In addition to BARBRI's offerings, numerous external scholarships can help fund a legal education:

Abbott & Fenner Scholarship: Offers $1,000 to students in any accredited post-secondary institution, based on an essay about educational and life goals.
American Association for Justice (AAJ): Richard D. Hailey Law Student Scholarship: Awards $5,000 to a minority law student member interested in trial advocacy.
American Association of Law Libraries (AALL): George A. guidelines: Supports students pursuing a career in law librarianship.
Arash Law Scholarship: Provides $1,000 to law students with a minimum CGPA of 3.0, based on an essay about their interest in law.
Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) Graduate Scholarships: Offers up to $5,000 for graduate students whose studies relate to national security interests.
Bisnar Chase Branch Out Scholarship: Awards $500 bi-annually to students committed to expanding their education and improving their communities.
Brown Bass & Jeter Community Leadership Scholarship: Provides $1,000 to an applicant demonstrating leadership qualities and community commitment.
DDRB Lawyers Legal Scholarship: Offers $1,500 to a law student with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, based on an essay about their career aspirations.
Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund: A merit-based scholarship for civilian federal employees, their spouses, and children.
Food and Drug Law Institute: H. Thomas Austern Memorial Writing Competitions: Encourages law students interested in food and drug law.
First Generation Law Student Scholarship: Awards $1,500 to two second-year law students who are the first in their family to attend law school.
KNR Robert Redick Memorial Scholarship: Awards $5,000 to a student who creates a plan to persuade young adults to avoid distracted driving.
Nicholas Braswell Strong Roots Scholarship: Offers $500 for an essay on the changing meaning of "community."
Scrofano Law PC Aspiring Public Defender Scholarship: Provides $1,500 to a 1st or 2nd year law student interested in a career as a public defender.
Banner Scholarship for Law Students: Open to students interested in a career in intellectual property law.

Diversity Scholarships

Several scholarships specifically support diverse law students:

American Bar Association: Legal Opportunity Scholarship: Grants $15,000 to 20-25 incoming diverse law students over three years.
American Bar Association: LGBT Public Interest Scholarship Program: Provides up to $5,000 to law students or recent graduates working in the LGBTQ+ public interest space.
Banner & Witcoff: Donald W. Banner Diversity Fellowship: Awards up to $10,000 to 1L students with a scientific or engineering degree and a commitment to IP law.
Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. Law School Diversity Scholarship Program: Awards $2,000 to one student.
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Scholarships (CBCF): Awards scholarships to students demonstrating leadership and academic talent.

Public Sector SQE Scholarship

The SQE Public Sector Scholarship offers a discount towards course fees for those employed or committed to employment in the public interest sector with an annual salary less than £45,000.

Securing Your Bar Prep Course

Securing the best bar prep course should be a source of confidence, not financial anxiety. BARBRI offers various options to ensure your focus remains on your studies:

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No Contract or Commitment: You can cancel any time prior to receiving online access to your bar review course or receiving physical course materials.

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