American Indian Law Center Pre-Law Summer Institute Scholarship

Name: Pre-Law Summer Institute for American Indians & Alaska Natives – American Indian Law Center, Inc.

Award Amount: Program tuition and housing covered; travel and living allowance provided

Information and Eligibility:
The Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI), offered by the American Indian Law Center, Inc., is an intensive two-month program that replicates the first semester of law school and prepares American Indian and Alaska Native individuals for the rigor of law school study. Participants gain exposure to legal analysis, writing briefs, moot court exercises, and core law-school curriculum delivered during eight weeks of full-time study on campus.
Eligibility criteria include:

• Tribal Membership: Applicants must be enrolled in a federally recognized tribe or first descendant with applicable documentation.
• Law School Application Status: Applicants must have submitted a completed application to an ABA-accredited law school by the program’s deadline.
• Readiness: Applicants must be prepared to engage in full-time, intensive law-school-type coursework and commit to the full program duration.

Application Requirements:

• Completed online PLSI application form and required personal data.
• Official or unofficial undergraduate transcript showing completed degree or pending graduation.
• LSAT score report and academic summary report (LSAC) or equivalent proof of readiness.
• Proof of tribal membership, CDIB (Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood) or enrollment documentation.

Selection Criteria:

• Demonstrated academic achievement and readiness for law study.
• Commitment to a legal education and service to tribal or Native communities.
• Quality of application materials and documentation of eligibility.

Additional Details:

• There is no tuition charge for admitted participants; housing, textbooks, and most program costs are covered. Travel reimbursement (up to a specified amount) and a modest living allowance may be provided when funding permits.
• The program is conducted at the American Indian Law Center, Inc. in partnership with the University of New Mexico School of Law over eight weeks during the summer, and is highly regarded for its success in preparing Indigenous law-school applicants.

Deadline:

• March

Apply Now

View Scholarship Data

Scholarship Categorization