Financial Aid

The FIU College of Law First Generation Scholarship Program provides scholarships to those students whose parents or guardians did not have the opportunity to attend professional school.

All first generation admitted students are encouraged to apply by submitting an essay of no more than 500 words to Michelle Pestaina, Assistant Director of Admissions and Financial Aid.  Your essay should discuss what it means to you to be among the first in your family to attend professional school. The 2013-14 First Generation Scholarship Call for Essays has closed. Any essays previously submitted will be reviewed by our Scholarship Committee.

The FIU College of Law thanks the following individuals, law firms, and foundations, each of which have committed to support a student’s legal education.

• Dean’s Scholarship
  The Dean’s Scholarship is awarded to our most qualified awards students.  The typical award amount is $10,000.  Recipients are selected during the admission review process based on their academic performance.
• Admissions Merit Scholarship
  The Admissions Merit Scholarship likewise is awarded during the admissions review process.  The typical award is $7,500.  Recipients are selected based on their application materials, with particular emphasis on their personal statement.
• Out-of-State Tuition Grant
  This merit-based grant is awarded to out-of-state students.  Recipients are selected during the admission review process based on their academic performance.  Residency reclassification forfeits this tuition grant.
• Justice R. Fred Lewis Scholarship
  Named in honor of Florida Supreme Court Justice R. Fred Lewis, this scholarship supports a student who exemplifies professionalism. The scholarship is awarded on an annual basis at the Dean’s discretion.
• Justice Peggy A. Quince Scholarship
  Named in honor of Florida Supreme Court Justice Peggy A. Quince, this scholarship supports a student whose parents or guardians did not have the opportunity to attend professional school. The recipient will be selected based on their application materials, with particular emphasis on their personal statement.

• Theodore and Rosalind Spak Law Scholarship
  In 1996, Mr. and Mrs. Spak established the first endowment to support the College of Law. This scholarship supports students who have demonstrated superior academic performance.
  
• The Cuban-American Bar Association Scholarship
  Sponsored by the Cuban American Bar Association, this scholarship is awarded to students who have performed with academic distinction in law school, and have demonstrated a commitment to service-oriented activities through research, writing and/or advocacy on behalf of the Cuban American community. Selections is made by the Cuban American Bar Association Scholarship Committee. View available scholarships - Essay submission deadline JUNE 30, 2013
  
• Judge Mario P. Goderich Law Scholarship
  Sponsored by the Cuban American Bar Association, this scholarship is awarded to students who have performed with academic distinction in law school, and have demonstrated a commitment to service-oriented activities through research, writing and/or advocacy on behalf of the Cuban American community. Selections is made by the Cuban American Bar Association Scholarship Committee.
  
• Judge Thomas C. Britton Law Scholarship
  This endowed scholarship is named in honor of Judge Thomas C. Britton, a former litigator and bankruptcy judge. The scholarship is awarded on an annual basis at the discretion of the Dean.
• Louis A. Reitmeister Environmental Law Scholarship
  This endowed scholarship, created by the Louis Aaron Reitmeister Foundation, is awarded to an upper-division law student who has demonstrated an interest in environmental law. A philosopher, Louis Aaron Reitmeister was a 20th century American writer for whom humanism and the environment were lifelong commitments.
  
• The Enma Tarafa Memorial Law Scholarship
  This endowment was created by Emilio and Marta Tarafa, in memory of their daughter, Emma,  a member of the inaugural College of Law class in 2005. This scholarship provides support to one student who has demonstrated characteristics of leadership and community service.
  
• The Joseph A. Reyes Law Scholarship
  Named in honor and memory of a committed public servant, this scholarship aims to support student who has shown a commitment to public service, and is interested in a career at a state attorney or public defender’s office.
  
• The C.A.M.P. 4 Justice Human Rights Scholarship
  Named in honor of Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre, Jr. , Mario de la Pena, and Pablo Morales, this scholarship is intended to provide support to students with an expressed focus on human rights and global justice issues.
  
• Rafael Lincoln Diaz-Balart Law Scholarship
  Named in honor of the patriarch of the Diaz-Balart family, and namesake of the College of Law’s building – Rafael Diaz-Balart Hall. This scholarship supports students who have demonstrated superior academic performance and an interest in public service.
  

• Alex and Maribety Alvarez Scholarship
  This scholarship covers full tuition costs and fees for one student for three years. Applicants must have overcome a significant obstacle in their life while maintaining good academic standing. The scholarship will be awarded to a student enrolled in or accepted for admission to the FIU College of Law. The recipient must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.4 at the end of his/her first and second year of law school in order to retain this scholarship.

• Gamba & Lombana, PA – Tomas Jorge Gamba Scholarship
  Awarded on an annual basis to a disadvantaged student. Preference will be given to students who: (1) have overcome obstacles such as socioeconomic or educational disadvantage or disabilities, or who are the first generation in their family to attend college; or (2) are members of groups that are underrepresented at the FIU College of Law. Selection is made by the FIU scholarship committee.

• Greenberg Traurig, LLP Scholarship
  Greenberg Traurig has established a scholarship to benefit one outstanding entering full-time law student. Selection by the scholarship committee is based upon academic credentials at the point of admissions.

• Jackson Lewis LLP Labor and Employment Law Scholarship
  Sponsored by Jackson Lewis LLP, this $4,500 scholarship is awarded on an annual basis to one deserving student with financial need and a demonstrated interest in labor and employment law matters. Preference will be given to students who: (1) have overcome obstacles such as socioeconomic or educational disadvantage or disabilities, or who are the first generation in their family to attend college; or (2) are members of groups that are underrepresented at the FIU College of Law.

• Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine, P.L. Scholarship
  Awarded to an outstanding third-year law student. Selection is based upon merit and the candidate’s credentials are reviewed by the Scholarship Committee.

• Broward County Hispanic Bar Association
  The BCHBA will award a $2,500 scholarship to a student who has distinguished himself/herself academically and/or in service-oriented activities, or has distinguished himself/herself in research, writing, community service and/or other activities of importance to the Broward County Hispanic community. The selection will be made by the Broward County Hispanic Bar Association.

• Florida Association for Women Lawyers Scholarship
  This scholarship is open to all students. Award amounts vary from $500 to $1000.
• Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Scholarship
  Each year the Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Bar (“YLD”) awards ten $2,000 cash scholarships to law students who attend one of Florida’s ABA accredited law schools. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of both merit and financial need.

• Florida Lawyers’ Legal Insurance Corporation (FLLIC)
  The FLLIC will award the Dan Bradley Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 to two law students whose academic record or record of extracurricular activities demonstrates a commitment to working with persons in the middle and lower income levels.

• Haitian Lawyers Association Scholarship
  Every year at least one student from the FIU College of Law is chosen as the recipient of this award. Applicants must be of Haitian descent, in good academic standing, and must submit an official transcript along with a one page personal statement describing his/her involvement in the community, their financial need and the reason(s) he/she believes he/she is qualified for the scholarship. Amount of award $2,000.

• ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund
  The Scholarship Fund will award $5,000 of financial assistance annually to each scholarship recipient attending an ABA-accredited law school. Twenty awards will be made to entering first-year students and may be renewable for two additional years, resulting in financial assistance totaling $15,000 during each student’s time in law school. The goal of the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund is to encourage and enable students who would not otherwise have the financial ability to attend law school. The intent is for these scholarship funds to supplement any grants or scholarship funds already awarded to or under consideration for the recipients. Visit the American Bar Association website for more information.

• C.A.M.P. 4 Justice Human Rights Fellowship Program
• Judge Aaron B. Cohen Judicial Externship Support Stipend
• Justice Barbara J. Pariente Stipend
  This stipend is named in honor of Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara J. Pariente, and aims to provide financial support to a student so that he/she may learn the craft of the law by externing for a judge. Students externing for a judge are encouraged to submit an essay of no more than 500 words to Ana Bierman, Director of Career Planning & Placement, and Interim Director of the Legal Externship Program. The student should discuss the reasons for perusing a judicial externship and any financial constraints that make participating in an externship difficult.

• Law Need-Based Grants
  Awards are based on financial need and are available to both full-time and part-time students. You must apply for financial aid to be considered. Funds are limited and it is strongly recommended that you submit your FAFSA as early as January 1, 2013 and before the FIU Law priority deadline which is February 15, 2013. Students must be registered for no less than 9 credits to qualify.

• Federal Direct Loan Program
  Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to be considered for federal loan or work-study programs. The College of Law participates in the Federal Direct Student Loan Program.
  • Effective July 1, 2012 Subsidized loans will no longer be offered at the graduate and professional academic level
• (Unsubsidized) Federal Direct Loans
  These loans are not based upon financial need. The maximum amount a student may borrow in unsubsidized loans is $20,500 per year. Interest begins to accrue on Unsubsidized loans from the time the disbursement occurs and throughout the repayment period. The Unsubsidized loan has a fixed interest rate of 6.8% for the life of the loan. Students may opt to pay interest while in school or may request that the interest be added to the loan principal to be paid during the student’s loan repayment period.
• Federal Direct Graduate Plus Loans
  Graduate Plus Loans are offered as a part of your federal award package however the Department of Education will require a credit approval before it disburses funds. The interest rate on this loan type is 7.9%. Interest payments on this loan are not subsidized by the government.
• Private Loan Programs
  Eligibility for these loans are based solely upon a student’s credit history. Students should request a copy of their credit report and check it for any errors prior to submitting an application for a private loan. An application can be requested directly from the private lender of your choice.

Credit Bureau Information

• TransUnion (800) 888-4213
  www.tuc.com
• Equifax (800) 685-1111
  www.equifax.com
• Experian (800) 397-3742
  www.experian.com