2026 DRI Law Student Diversity Scholarship

About the Scholarship

DRI announces its annual Law Student Diversity Scholarship program, open to rising (2026–2027) second- and third-year law students. It is focused on students who come from backgrounds that would add to the cause of diversity within the Civil Defense Bar. All rising second- and third-year law students are eligible, regardless of race or ethnicity.

One scholarship in the amount of $10,000 and two scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each will be awarded. The recipients will be recognized at the DRI Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. in October.

To qualify for a scholarship, a candidate must be a full-time student. Evening students also qualify for consideration if they have completed one-third or more of the total credit hours required for a degree by the applicant’s law school.*

*Students who are members of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), law school or law student members of AAJ, or students otherwise affiliated with or employed by AAJ are not eligible for DRI Law Student Diversity Scholarships.

How Much is the Scholarship?

One scholarship in the amount of $10,000 and two scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each will be awarded to applicants who best meet the following criteria:

Demonstrated academic excellence
Service to the profession
Service to the community
Service to the cause of diversity

What do I Need to Submit?

A Completed Application Form

Each applicant must complete the application form in order to apply for the scholarship.

Fill Out the Application (PDF)

A Cover Letter

When applicants submit the application, they must include a cover letter. In that cover letter, each applicant should identify academic, personal, and professional accomplishments and how those accomplishments qualify the applicant for a DRI Law Student Diversity Scholarship.

Three Recommendations

Applications must also include three (3) recommendations, one each from the following individuals:

The dean or an associate dean of the student's law school;
A current or past law professor; and
An individual who is personally acquainted with the applicant, but who is not related by blood line or adoption.

Letters of recommendation may be submitted directly by the applicant.

An Essay (No More than 2,000 words)

In addition to submitting the attached application and required recommendations, applicants must complete an essay of no more than 2,000 words based upon the following question:

Diversity, equity, and inclusion strengthen the legal profession by expanding perspectives, removing barriers, and helping ensure that justice is accessible to all communities. In recent years, however, programs and efforts designed to advance diversity have faced increasing scrutiny and challenges.

Please describe how your background, identity, and life experiences—including any obstacles or challenges you have faced—have shaped your perspective on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. In your response, discuss how navigating these experiences has helped prepare you to address future efforts that may seek to limit or eliminate diversity in the profession, how you have demonstrated resilience, academic excellence, or leadership during law school despite those challenges, and the specific initiatives, programs, or efforts you would create, develop, or champion to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion within the legal profession and the communities it serves.

Submission Information and Deadline

All scholarship materials (including cover letter, application, essay, and recommendations) may be submitted in PDF format to scholarship@dri.org, or mail a hard copy format to:

Diversity Scholarship
DRI
222 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 1870
Chicago, IL 60606

Applications and all other requested materials must be received by June 30, 2026.

LATE OR INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.