The University of St. Thomas School of Law administers a scholarship program for students with outstanding academic records or who are particularly likely to contribute to the school’s mission.
The School of Law does not designate a specific number of scholarships to be awarded in an academic year, but instead awards scholarship from a broad pool of scholarship monies. In awarding scholarships to students, our goal is to use the pool of money to attract and reward students who may bring a strong academic background, a unique view point, and/or a dynamic experiential voice. It is also our goal to attract students who bring ethnic and cultural diversity to our law school community.
There is no separate application other than the law school admissions application, and all students are considered for scholarship at the time they apply to the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Students who are awarded a scholarship will be notified as part of a positive admissions decision.
The criteria for receiving a scholarship are the same as those used for admitting a student to the School of Law. Applications are reviewed on a whole file basis with attention paid to those students who display broad strength in a combination of LSAT, undergraduate GPA, and mission fit.
All scholarships are offered on a three-year basis, meaning that students retain the scholarship provided they remain in good academic standing. For more information on the UST Law Scholarship policy, refer to Section II-6 of the policy manual.
The President’s Scholarship is awarded on behalf of Father Dennis Dease, President of the University of St. Thomas. President’s Scholars typically reflect strength in their academic performance and demonstrate a compelling fit with the mission of the School of Law. President’s Scholars receive a full-tuition scholarship.
The Dean’s Scholarship is awarded on behalf of the Dean of the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Dean’s Scholars typically reflect strength in their academic performance and demonstrate a compelling fit with the mission of the School of Law. Dean’s Scholars receive a partial-tuition scholarship that can range up to a $28,000 annual award for the three years of law school.
Beginning with last application cycle, 2011-2012, the University of St. Thomas School of Law launched the Dean's Service Scholarship program. Every admissible applicant who has completed or is scheduled to complete a service commitment through one of the organizations listed below is guaranteed an $8,000 renewable three-year scholarship. The terms of service must be one year or longer.
Service scholars will also be eligible for additional Dean's scholarship awards ranging from $3,000 to $30,000. There is no additional scholarship application required for the Service Scholarship award, but an applicant must include a statement in their application materials at the time of application indicating their service period and may be asked for documentation verifying the completion of the service commitment.
With generous support from the School of Law Board of Governors, the School of Law has been able to establish the School of Law Board of Governors Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to a student with outstanding academic achievements as well as a commitment to community.
Through a generous gift from the Briggs and Morgan Foundation, the Briggs and Morgan School of Law Scholarship has been established to recognize a law student who demonstrates strong academic excellence as well as a commitment to the mission of UST Law.
The Ciresi Scholarship is awarded through the generous support of Michael V. and Ann Ciresi. Mr. Ciresi is a member of the University of St. Thomas Law Board of Governors, and a partner at an internationally recognized law firm whose principal office is located in Minneapolis. The scholarship is awarded to students of minority cultures with a view towards developing cultural, ethnic, gender and economic diversity in the School of Law student body.
The Class of 2005 continues to support the School of Law with the School of Law Class of 2005 Reunion Scholarship. The Class of 2005 Scholarship is awarded to a first year law student who has demonstrated a commitment to volunteer and community service work.
The Class of 2006 has created a School of Law Class of 2006 Reunion Scholarship to be awarded to an outstanding first year law student who shows great promise to be an outstanding student and member of the law community and has a strong mission fit.
The Gherty Family Student Scholar in Ethical Leadership is generously funded by the Gherty Family. The Gherty Scholar will have the opportunity to work with the Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership beginning after their first year of law school. Gherty Scholars must demonstrate a strong commitment to the School of Law’s mission.
The Gray Plant Mooty Law Scholarship is funded through a generous donation from the law firm of Gray Plant Mooty. The scholarship is awarded to an incoming first year student who has demonstrated outstanding academic credentials as well as a strong commitment to the University of St. Thomas School of Law’s mission.
Through a generous gift from John D. Herrick, a member of our Board of Governors, the John D. Herrick Scholarship was established. The Herrick Scholarship is awarded to outstanding student who will contribute to our diverse law school community and ultimately to the legal profession through their commitment to service and leadership.
The Sara Jane and Quentin Hietpas Scholarship is awarded annually though the generous support of Sara Jane and Quentin Hietpas. Mr. Hietpas served as Senior Vice President
for External Affairs and was a director of two capital fundraising campaigns at the University of St. Thomas. This scholarship is awarded to outstanding students with a strong mission fit.
The University of St. Thomas School of Law has received a generous donation from Richard Zuschlag to fund the Pio Cardinal Laghi Scholarship. Pio Cardinal Laghi was the founding chair of the UST Law Board of Governors and was a strong supporter of the Law School and its mission. His leadership role brought the University of St. Thomas School of Law great recognition and visibility.
The Pio Cardinal Laghi Scholarship is awarded to outstanding UST students who will contribute to our diverse law school community and ultimately to the legal profession through their service and leadership. The scholarship also looks to demonstrated financial need.
The University of St. Thomas School of Law has received a generous donation from a group effort of friends and associates who wish to pay tribute to the lives and memory of Jim and Barbara Larkin. The James and Barbara Larkin Endowed Scholarship in Law is awarded each year to a St. Thomas law school student who has overcome challenging socio-economic circumstances; demonstrated a dedication to ethical leadership and excellence in the practice of law; as well as shown a commitment to serving their community – as exemplified by Jim and Barb throughout their entire lives.
The Leonard, Street and Deinard Minority Scholarship is funded and awarded through the generosity of the Leonard, Street and Deinard law firm. The scholarship is awarded exclusively to a student of color as part of the law school and law firm’s ongoing efforts to promote diversity in law school communities and in the legal profession.
The Nilan Johnson Lewis Scholarship is funded through a generous gift from the law firm of Nilan Johnson Lewis. The scholarship is awarded to a student who had demonstrated academic excellence as well as a strong commitment to the mission of the School of Law.
The Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner scholarship is generously supported by the law firm of Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner. The scholarship is awarded to a student who
had demonstrated academic excellence as well as a strong commitment to the mission of the School of Law.
American Association for Justice (AAJ) Law Student Scholarships and Awards
ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund
DRI Diversity Scholarship - Application deadline is Friday, April 19, 2013
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Range Bar Association Scholarship
Sponsors for Educational Opportunity
The Diversity in Law Scholarship was created for law students who either (1) are a member of a diverse group (broadly defined to include race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical disability or economic/educational disadvantage) that is historically underrepresented in the private practice of law; or (2) demonstrate a long-standing commitment to diversity that will be furthered by award of the scholarship. This is a two-year scholarship totally $30,000 along with an attorney mentor and an offer for a paid summer clerkship.
The application deadline for submission is April 1, 2013. For complete information about the firm's Diversity in Law Scholarship, including contact and submission information and to access the formal application, please Zelle Hofmann.
All UST Law merit scholarships are offered on a three-year basis, meaning that students retain the scholarship provided they remain in good academic standing (GPA of 2.0 or better.) For more information on the UST Law Scholarship policy, refer to Section II-6 of the policy manual.
In 2011, 99% of our students retained their scholarships. The following table illustrates our scholarship retention in recent years.
| Students matriculating | Number entering with conditional scholarships | Number whose conditional scholarships have since been reduced or eliminated |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 135 | 1 |
| 2010 | 99 | 2 |
| 2009 | 108 | 1 |