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.
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.
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
For information regarding the Quantity of Work rule, please see the General Information Catalog.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Requirement
All scholarship recipients who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents are required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be scholarship eligible and to maintain scholarship eligibility as a continuing law student. International students are exempt from this requirement. Scholarship recipients who do not wish to borrow federal student loans will have the opportunity to decline those offers. For more information, contact the Law School Financial Aid Office, which serves law students and is an extension of the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
Professional Standard of Behavior Requirement
All scholarship recipients are expected to maintain a standard of behavior consistent with becoming a member of the legal profession.
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 School of Law to complete the JD program or an approved dual degree program. For example, students may not retain their scholarship when visiting another law school, when completing an ad hoc study abroad program through another law school, or while completing any degree program at another College or School at The University of Texas at Austin that is not an approved dual degree program.
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.