Financial Aid Office - Scholarships
The following scholarship opportunities are open to all TMSL Students as described below.
IMPORTANT DATES:
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Friday, March 6th - Scholarship Applications Due by 12:00 noon
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Saturday, April 11th - TMSL Alumni Board Scholarship Awards will be presented to Scholarship Award Recipients at the
2026 Annual Law Day Banquet & Barristers' Ball (unless otherwise noted)
1. TMSL Need Based Scholarship Stipend Award ($2500 stipend)
-This scholarship is awarded to a one (1) 1L, 2L, and 3L student to support students who demonstrate a financial need and
commitment to academic success.
Criteria - minimum 2..3 GPA (copy of unofficial transcript must be included in application), Resume, Essay #1 - 500-700 words
on what hardships you have overcome and why the financial need?; Essay #2 - 250-500 words on why are diverse lawyers
necessary for the legal profession and why is it important to ensure that historically black law schools continue to educate
diverse students even as diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives are rolled back at other institutions?
Deadline: Submit all materials in Symplicity no later than 12:00 noon on Friday, March 6, 2026.
2. TMSL Academic Excellence Scholarship Stipend Award ($5000 stipend)
-This scholarship is awarded to two (2) 1Ls, 2Ls and 3Ls who have demonstrated proven academic success while a student at
TMSL.Criteria - minimum 3.0 GPA (copy of unofficial transcript must be included in application), Resume, Essay #1 - 500-700 words
on How you best represent our motto to Protect It, Improve It, and Pass It On? Or What have you done to benefit Thurgood
Law and its mission?; Essay #2 - 250-500 words on why are diverse lawyers necessary for the legal profession and why is it
important to ensure that historically black law schools continue to educate diverse students even as diversity, equity and
inclusion initiatives are rolled back at other institutions?
Deadline: Submit all materials in Symplicity no later than 12:00 noon on Friday, March 6, 2026.
*All incomplete applications or any applications that do not follow the above instructions will automatically be disqualified.
* You must attend the 2026 Annual Law Day Banquet & Barristers' Ball to receive your award
If you have any questions, please only contact Dean Prudence at prudence.smith@tmslaw.tsu.edu or 713-313-1142. Good Luck!
Scholarships
Thurgood Marshall School of Law encourages students to explore and apply for all applicable scholarships. The Office of Admissions and Financial Aid make every effort to inform students of scholarships administered by Thurgood Marshall School of Law and external scholarships as they become available.
We suggest that you apply for any and all external scholarships if you meet the eligibility requirements; receiving an external scholarship could reduce your alternative loan borrowing. Remember, the less you borrow, the less you'll have to repay.
Merit Scholarships
All admitted J.D. students, with the exception of those who have previously attended law school, are considered for renewable merit scholarships which will be awarded until such funds are expended. No separate application is required. Scholarships are based on the review of academic performance of the student (LSAT/ GRE, GPA) and on a holistic review of the entirety of your application for admission.
Scholarship recipients must meet all the law school admission requirements and must complete a FAFSA (U.S. Citizens) or TASFA (International).
If a student is awarded a merit scholarship, they will be notified by the TMSL Admissions Office. Scholarships are renewed for their second and third year provided that the student meets the performance standards as stated in their scholarship offer letter and remains full-time in the J.D. program at TMSL.
The scholarship is paid in two installments each year, one each for the fall and spring semesters and will be applied to your student account.
For priority scholarship consideration, applicants are encouraged to submit their application prior to April 1 each year.
Please note that the law school’s scholarship program described above is subject to fund availability and review each academic year. Any modifications in the program resulting from the review will be posted, and a written notice sent to any affected student.
External Scholarships
We encourage you to look outside of the law school for scholarship opportunities. The following is a list of on-line search engines that you may use to begin your search (the search engines are free).
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