Financial Assistance
The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid offers various forms of financial assistance to all University students; these are described in the General Information Catalog. With the help of alumni and friends, a number of financial aid programs have also been established for law students. The School of Law provides financial assistance to students pursuing the JD in the form of scholarships, grants, and loans. Financial assistance is available to candidates for the LLM if they are United States citizens or eligible noncitizens. These students may be eligible for federal and private loans for one year only.
Loan Funds and Endowed Scholarships
Many lawyers, law firms, and associations contribute annually to the School of Law's awards and scholarships program. Information about the school's many endowed loans and scholarships is available from the School of Law Financial Aid Office.
School of Law Emergency Loans
The School of Law has limited short-term emergency loan funds available to law students. Loans are made only in cases of emergency and only to degree-seeking students. Requests for these loans may be made in person at the School of Law Financial Aid Office.
School of Law Loan Repayment Assistance Program
The School of Law offers a loan repayment program to graduates with educational debt who enter qualifying public service. Information about the Loan Repayment Assistance Program is at https://law.utexas.edu/financial-aid/lrap/ .
School of Law Scholarships
All students accepted to the School of Law are considered for any scholarships for which they meet the requirements. Continuing students must complete the School of Law scholarship profile annually through the School of Law Financial Aid Office. For additional information, write to the Financial Aid Office, Scholarship Committee, The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, 727 East Dean Keeton Street, Austin TX 78705-3299 or send an e-mail to lawfinaid@law.utexas.edu.
Donor Acknowledgment Letter Requirement
All scholarship recipients are required to send formal donor acknowledgment letters for each donor who is associated with any awarded scholarship. If recipients do not complete the donor acknowledgment letter(s) as required, scholarships will be canceled and funds forfeited for the year.
Quantity of Work Requirement
To retain scholarship(s), a minimum course load of 10 semester hours is required of all scholarship recipients with 20 semester hours of credit or more; a minimum course load of 14 semester hours is required of all scholarship recipients with fewer than 20 semester hours of credit. A student may not take less than a minimum load without special permission from the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid. The scholarship will renew provided that the recipient meets minimum performance standards and Satisfactory Academic Progress and is on track to graduate within three years of their law school start date (or four years in the case of dual degree students).
The University of Texas at Austin Tuition Requirement
Scholarship funds can only apply to fall or spring semesters where scholarship recipients are paying tuition at The University of Texas at Austin. For example, students may not retain their scholarship when visiting another law school or when completing an ad hoc study abroad program through another law school.
Scholarship Repayment Policy
A student who withdraws at any time during the semester will be required to repay that semester’s scholarship award. A student who withdraws because of an urgent, substantial, and documented medical or mental health condition or other non-academic exigency may petition the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid for relief from the repayment requirement.