SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHINESE LAWYERS ASSOCIATION
2024 SCHOLARSHIP/FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION
APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 5:00 P.M. (PST), FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
The Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association (SCCLA) supports the next generation of leaders by awarding annual scholarships and fellowships to law students who have demonstrated their commitment to advancing the Chinese American and/or broader Asian Pacific American (“APA”) community. SCCLA invites current law students (including LLM students and current 1Ls) and law school graduates from the class of 2024 to apply.
The Scholarship & Fellowship recipients are awarded at SCCLA’s Annual Installation and Awards Banquet held on Thursday, May 30, 2024. Unfortunately, SCCLA does not subsidize travel for scholarship and fellowship recipients, including those who live out-of-town. If you are selected to receive an award, you must attend the Banquet and stay through the program duration from 6:00-9:00 p.m.
SCCLA Scholarships are awarded based on (1) financial need, (2) academic accomplishments, and/or (3) active involvement and/or expected future contribution to the Chinese-American and/or APA community, particularly in Southern California. Law students at all levels are encouraged to apply. There is no clerkship requirement for Scholarships.
SCCLA Fellowships fund externships at qualifying non-profit organizations or governmental entities (i.e. judicial externships). To apply for a fellowship award, the applicant must meet all requirements at the time of application, including completing a minimum of 150 hours/semester at a non-profit organization or governmental entity. See below for additional Fellowship requirements and guidelines.
To be considered for a SCCLA Scholarship and/or a SCCLA Fellowship, please complete this application and submit your resume and a law school transcript (unofficial transcripts are acceptable). Students will be notified by email whether they received a Scholarship or Fellowship award during the week of April 29th. If you are selected to receive an award, you must confirm your in-person attendance at the 2024 Annual Installation and Awards Banquet within the deadline prescribed and provide a short student bio and headshot to be included in the Awards Program Booklet. If you are unable to confirm your in-person attendance or are unable to attend in-person, SCCLA reserves the right to retract your award and give it to another student who can confirm their in-person attendance.
For questions, email scholarships@sccla.org
SCCLA FELLOWSHIP
To be considered for a SCCLA Fellowship, you must complete a minimum of 150 hours working at a non-profit organization or governmental entity (e.g. judicial clerkships) based in Southern California by the time of submitting your application. Areas may include but are not limited to: domestic violence, immigration, litigation, elder law, disability law, homelessness prevention, and other areas relating to advocacy for social justice, assistance with low income individuals and families, or beneficial impact Asian Pacific American communities.
Examples of previously awarded SCCLA Fellows include interns or externs at: Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, Children’s Law Center of California, Public Counsel, California Attorney General’s Office, U.S. District Court Central District of California, and Unite Here Local 11, to name a few.
In addition to the application, Fellowship applicants must submit their: (1) resume, (2) law school transcript (unofficial transcripts are acceptable), and (3) verification of completed fellowship hours completed by their supervisor.
Requirements and Guidelines
1. A qualifying non-profit organization must be a southern California 501(c)(3) organization that provides free or low-cost legal services for low-income individuals and families.
2. A governmental entity includes the district attorney, public defender, city attorney, and other federal, state, or local agencies.
3. Fellows are expected to work 150 hours per semester (minimum of 15 hours per week for at least 10 weeks) by the time of submitting their application.
4. Fellowship applicants must submit verification of hours worked from the non-profit organization or governmental entity using the attached certification form.
5. Up to four separate fellowships will be awarded per year. A previous fellowship recipient can apply for a subsequent fellowship, so long as all requirements are additionally met for the subsequent fellowship.
6. A student can apply for both a Scholarship and a Fellowship, as long as all requirements are met. Please indicate in the application that you are applying for both.
7. Selected fellows may also use their Fellowship to receive academic credit so long as expressly permitted by their school.
8. If the position at the non-profit organization or governmental entity is paid, such as through grants or stipends, please disclose the amount received in the application below.
9. Potential candidates may be contacted if there are multiple eligible applicants. Once selected, a fellow may be further interviewed by the Scholarship Committee and/or Fellowship donor.
10. Selected fellows must attend SCCLA’s Annual Installation and Awards Banquet and stay through the program duration from 6:00-9:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, 2024.