External Scholarships

Asian American Bar Foundation of Houston, Inc.
Honorable Herbert W. Gee Memorial Scholarship (2026) and Related Pro Bono Public Service Scholarships
Scholarship Application Guidelines (pdf)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 21, 2026

I. SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA
The Asian American Bar Foundation of Houston, Inc. seeks to award a scholarship of up to $6,000 in honor of the late Judge Herbert W. Gee, who was Associate Presiding Judge for the City of Houston Municipal Courts, a founding member and Past President of the Asian American Bar Association, and a recipient of the 2010 AABA Impact Award. The Gee scholarship recipient will receive up to a $6,000 scholarship to help cover tuition and academic expenses for the fall semester of 2026 or the spring semester of 2027.
The 2026 Honorable Herbert W. Gee Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to an individual applicant who best embodies the spirit of the late Judge Gee who (1) was dedicated to serving the public, (2) supported the AAPI community in the greater Houston metropolitan area, and (3) exemplified intelligence, generosity and leadership in their everyday life. The recipient should also have demonstrated academic and professional excellence, with a preference for those students who have committed their careers to serving others. The foregoing criteria may be weighed in any order as determined by the AABF. All those who believe they fit the criteria are encouraged to apply.

Applicants who do not receive the Gee scholarship will also be considered for a pro bono or public service scholarship if the applicants will serve the greater Houston metropolitan area’s AAPI community in an legal project or legal internship with a pro bono services provider or with a government agency such as the Department of Justice, the District Attorney or another federal/state/local agency. Applicants must identify the legal internship or legal project that they propose to participate in, at the time the application is submitted. Applicants must complete the legal project or legal internship in the fall of 2026 or spring/summer 2027. The pro bono or public service scholarship will be for up to $1,000 to help defray living expenses during the time of the legal project or legal internship.

II. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible, an applicant must be (1) a member of the AABA, (2) enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school in Texas or demonstrated long-term personal and professional ties to the greater Houston metropolitan area, and (3) intend to reside and seek employment as a legal professional in the greater Houston metropolitan area after graduation and remain involved as an AABA member. Please note that membership to the AABA is free and open to all law students at accredited law schools. Students who are not enrolled in a Texas law school should explicitly describe their commitment to the greater Houston legal community in their application materials.

Applicants should submit application packages containing the following information to the Nominations Committee, where applicable:

1. Name of applicant
2. Contact information (name, address, telephone number, e-mail address)
3. Name of school
4. School address and contact information for registrar’s office
5. Expected graduation date
6. Copy of transcript, GPA and class rank (unofficial copies are sufficient)
7. A resume or CV providing relevant educational and employment history
8. A cover letter describing how the applicant embodies the Hon. Herbert W. Gee Memorial Scholarship criteria through the below:
a. Employment experience;
b. Course work, clinics or other relevant extracurricular activities at current or previous schools;
c. Community and volunteer experience;
d. Involvement with or contributions to AAPI community;
e. Leadership experience and involvement in other organizations;
f. Awards, honors, scholarships received;
g. Details of any intended internship or employment with a pro bono provider or governmental agency, including evidence of application/acceptance into such a program and the amount of compensation (if any); and
h. Any other information that the applicant believes is relevant to the application process.

III. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
At the close of the semester during which the scholarship was disbursed, the scholarship recipient is required to submit a final written report to the AABF. The report should include any community-based work the student performed in the greater Houston metropolitan area and the student’s post-graduation plans. BY APPLYING TO THIS SCHOLARSHIP, STUDENTS AGREE TO THIS REPORTING REQUIREMENT, which allows the AABF to grow its network of legal alumni and further its mission.

IV. AABA GALA ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT
The AABF honors its scholarship awardees at the annual charity auction and gala hosted by its sister organization, the Asian American Bar Association of Houston. If you are awarded a scholarship, you will be expected to assist the AABF in preparing a summary and/or brief presentation of your academic and community achievements. You should also be prepared to attend the annual gala, which will take place on September 18, 2026.

V. SUBMISSION
Scholarship applicants are advised to use these application guidelines as a reference and checklist to ensure that all necessary information is provided with the original application package. Please submit all information in a single email in PDF format. Please do not submit your materials in piecemeal. The AABA Nominations Committee may contact applicants if additional information is required, but the AABA Nominations Committee reserves the right to disqualify application packages from consideration if key information is not included. The AABF reserves the right to subdivide the scholarship, increase the number of scholarships, or choose not to award any scholarships in its sole discretion.

Application packages must be sent via email in PDF format by no later than August 21, 2026 to:
AABA Houston Executive Directors aabahouston.ed@gmail.com

When sending your application material via email, you must include “AABF - HON. HERBERT W. GEE SCHOLARSHIP” in the subject line.
If you have any questions please contact the trustees at the above email address. Thank you

The Spouses of Houston Barristers is excited to announce the release of our Fall 2026 Pathways to Justice Scholarship application.  The Pathways to Justice Scholarship is a merit-based award for law students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievements and a strong commitment to pursuing justice in the legal field and the community at large.  This scholarship aims to support students who bring unique and underrepresented perspectives to the profession.  The scholarship award is up to $10,000. 

The link to apply can be found here and the instructions to apply are attached to this email. 

Application

The deadline to apply is Wednesday, August 5, 2026. 

Please circulate to second and third year law students. 

The ABA Council for Diversity in the Education Pipeline (Pipeline Council) and the ABA Judicial Division (JD) are excited to announce that we are accepting law school participation forms for the 2027 ABA Judicial Clerkship Program (JCP), which will take place on January 28th to January 31st, during the ABA Midyear Conference in Chicago, IL.

The Judicial Clerkship Program, held annually at the ABA Midyear Conference, provides law students with an immersive experience to engage with judges, develop legal research and writing skills, and explore the intricacies of the judge-clerk relationship. Over the course of three days, students collaborate on research projects, participate in panel discussions with former law clerks, and attend oral arguments before a host jurisdiction’s highest appellate court. Additionally, students gain invaluable networking opportunities with judges, attorneys, and ABA members. Resume review sessions with judges offer personalized feedback, further supporting the students’ professional growth. The JCP’s overarching mission is to cultivate lasting relationships between judges and law students, opening doors to clerkship opportunities and advancing diversity within the judiciary.

The JCP is an outstanding opportunity for law students to gain exposure to judicial clerkships and engage with judges from across the country. For more information about the 2027 program, please visit the Judicial Clerkship Program webpage.

Law School Participation Forms are due by November 6, 2026.

We look forward to your participation in this upcoming JCP!