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Earl Warren Scholarship

Offered by NAACP Legal Defense Fund

The Earl Warren Scholarship is a $45,000 total ($15,000 per year for three years) scholarship from NAACP Legal Defense Fund for law students across the United States. The sponsor does not publish a minimum GPA. The deadline is Annually, May 1. It is renewable for more than one year.

Award amount$45,000 total ($15,000 per year for three years)
DeadlineAnnually, May 1
SponsorNAACP Legal Defense Fund
Minimum GPANone published by the sponsor
Who can applyLaw school
LocationNational
Race requirementMinority-focused
RenewableYes
Essay requiredYes
Official pagenaacpldf.org
Last verified

About the Earl Warren Scholarship

The Earl Warren Scholarship is awarded annually by the Legal Defense Fund to rising law students whose commitment to racial justice shows outstanding potential for careers as civil rights and public interest attorneys. Awards are $15,000 per year for three years, a total of $45,000, provided scholars remain in good academic standing and continue to meet the criteria. Eligible applicants are students entering their first or second year of full-time study at an accredited law school. There is no minimum LSAT or GPA requirement; candidates are judged holistically. Scholars may also apply for LDF internships, externships, and guided research projects. Final decisions are made in mid-August or early September.

Minority-focused. Open to students from underrepresented or minority backgrounds, including Black students.

Who is eligible

To apply for the Earl Warren Scholarship, NAACP Legal Defense Fund requires that you meet all of the following:

  • Be entering the first or second year of full-time legal study at an accredited law school
  • Demonstrate a commitment to racial justice and potential for civil rights or public interest law
  • Be a US citizen; LDF states it is not accepting applications from non-US citizens at this time
  • Demonstrate financial need by providing a FAFSA form with the adjusted gross income line completed
  • No minimum LSAT or GPA is required; GRE scores are accepted in place of the LSAT

These are the requirements as published by the sponsor. Always confirm on the official page before applying, since sponsors update criteria between cycles.

Cycle status. The 2025-2026 application deadline was May 1, 2026 and has passed. LDF awards this scholarship annually on the same May 1 cycle.

How to apply

  1. Open the official NAACP Legal Defense Fund page and read the current criteria in full.
  2. Confirm you meet every requirement listed above before starting.
  3. Draft the required essay early and have someone read it.
  4. Gather supporting documents, which typically include transcripts and recommendations.
  5. Submit before Annually, May 1. Sponsors rarely accept late applications.

Go to the official application at naacpldf.org →

Earl Warren Scholarship: common questions

What is the Earl Warren Scholarship?

The Earl Warren Scholarship is a scholarship worth $45,000 total ($15,000 per year for three years) from NAACP Legal Defense Fund. The Earl Warren Scholarship is awarded annually by the Legal Defense Fund to rising law students whose commitment to racial justice shows outstanding potential for careers as civil rights and public interest attorneys. Awards are $15,000 per year for three years, a total of $45,000, provided scholars remain in good academic standing and continue to meet the criteria. Eligible applicants are students entering their first or second year of full-time study at an accredited law school. There is no minimum LSAT or GPA requirement; candidates are judged holistically. Scholars may also apply for LDF internships, externships, and guided research projects. Final decisions are made in mid-August or early September.

Who is eligible for the Earl Warren Scholarship?

NAACP Legal Defense Fund requires that applicants be entering the first or second year of full-time legal study at an accredited law school, along with 4 further requirements: demonstrate a commitment to racial justice and potential for civil rights or public interest law; be a US citizen; LDF states it is not accepting applications from non-US citizens at this time; demonstrate financial need by providing a FAFSA form with the adjusted gross income line completed; no minimum LSAT or GPA is required; GRE scores are accepted in place of the LSAT. Open to students from underrepresented or minority backgrounds, including Black students.

What is the deadline for the Earl Warren Scholarship?

This award does not have a fixed published deadline. Its usual cycle is: Annually, May 1. The 2025-2026 application deadline was May 1, 2026 and has passed. LDF awards this scholarship annually on the same May 1 cycle.

Is there a GPA requirement for the Earl Warren Scholarship?

NAACP Legal Defense Fund does not publish a minimum GPA for this award. That usually means applications are assessed holistically, with essays, financial need, recommendations, and community involvement weighed alongside grades.

Is the Earl Warren Scholarship only for Black students?

No. Open to students from underrepresented or minority backgrounds, including Black students. We verified this against the sponsor's published criteria on August 13, 2026.

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