ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS

The Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation (“EBGBF”) mission is to provide support for diversifying the legal community, which includes scholarship opportunities for law students. The Foundation is committed to increasing the number of students of color that graduate law school, successfully pass the California Bar Exam and subsequently practice law in San Diego County. These scholarship opportunities serve to assist students in sustaining their legal education and preparing for the bar exam.

The number of awards and amounts vary from year to year based on funding. For a complete description of awards please visit our Scholarship Programs page.

The 2023 Annual Scholarship Application Period is Almost Here!

 

Complete applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, October 11, 2023.  A G-Mail account is required to submit this application.  Mailed or emailed applications will not be considered, nor will incomplete or untimely applications.  Award recipients will be notified via email of their selection by October 20.

For questions, please contact via e-mail Isaac Jackson, 2023 Scholarship Committee Member, at info@ebgbf.org.

CRITERIA

Applicants for our 2022 Scholarships must meet the following criteria:

  • Be currently attending a law school in San Diego County or with ties to San Diego County.
  • Be of African American heritage and/or have made significant contributions to the African American community.
  • Demonstrate an intent to practice law in San Diego County.
  • For Bar Exam Scholarship consideration, candidates must be in their 3L year and plan to sit for the February or July 2023 California Bar Exam.
  • Provide total loan balances for law school and undergraduate education and submit verification upon request.
  • If requested, participate in an interview with the scholarship committee.
  • If requested, recipients must be willing to meet with their scholarship sponsors.

SELECTION PROCESS

Scholarship award recipient will be selected by a review committee composed of Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation Board Members and members of the legal community. Applicants will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Academic performance;
  • Commitment to increasing diversity and access in the San Diego legal community;
  • Community service; and
  • Financial need

APPLICATION MATERIALS

Please be prepared to submit the following materials using the Google Form available here:

  1. PERSONAL STATEMENT (500 words maximum): Please describe (1) how an EBGBF Scholarship award would impact your personal and professional aspirations; and (2) how you plan to use your legal education to impact the African American legal community in San Diego.
  2. RESUME
  3. COMMUNITY SERVICE & INVOLVEMENT: Please list your participation in the San Diego County legal and non-legal community, to the extent that information is not already included in your resume.
  4. CURRENT UNDERGRADUATE AND LAW SCHOOL DEBT
  5. FINANCIAL NEED: Please describe, if applicable, any other financial circumstances and how this scholarship will assist you financially.
  6. LAW SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT (Unofficial permitted)
  7. PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOT:  A print ready JPEG or PNG file of a professional headshot of yourself.

If you are selected for an Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation Annual Gala Scholarship, your photo and a short biography will be included in Foundation promotional material. Your photo and biography will not be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee.  However, the Scholarship Committee asks that you please have a brief biography of no more than 150 words available in the event you are selected.  

Support Our Mission

The Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and gifts made to the Foundation are tax-deductible. Please click here to donate today.

Contact Us

Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation
PO Box 124923
San Diego, CA
92112-4923

Phone: (619) 693-6050
E-Mail: info@ebgbf.org

Follow Us On...