LAW STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

AABA recognizes the importance of fostering the growth of law students to improve the future development of the Asian Pacific American bar. AABA will award scholarships to deserving law students who are committed to advocating and improving their communities. The AABA Law Foundation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation dedicated to serving the community and law students through its Foundation Scholarship awards.

2023 AABA Law Foundation Scholarships

AABA recognizes the importance of fostering the growth of law students to improve the future development of the Asian Pacific American bar. AABA will award scholarships to deserving law students who are committed to advocating and improving their communities.

All current law students are eligible to apply.  Selection criteria for the AABA Law Foundation Scholarships include community service or public interest work for the Asian Pacific American (APA) community or other underrepresented communities; demonstrated leadership in the APA community; demonstrated financial need; and commitment to the Bay Area. Selection criteria for the Chao-Fujioka Family Scholarships include commitment to and interest in public law government service or international law practice area, and a connection to California. If you have any questions, please contact aaba.bayarea@gmail.com.

The AABA Law Foundation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation dedicated to serving the community and law students through its Foundation Scholarship awards. The Foundation can only continue its work through the generosity of donors.  To donate online, visit http://www.aaba-bay.com/aaba-foundation/donate/.

Applicants will be considered for one of the following scholarships.  Last year, the AABA Law Foundation awarded seven scholarships in the amount of $5,000.  The amount of each scholarship this year will depend on the financial needs of the applicant pool, but we expect that they will be a minimum of $5,000 each.

• Asian Pacific American Judges’ Scholarship
• Raymond L. Ocampo Jr. Family Scholarship
• Joseph and Chang Morozumi Scholarship
• Chao-Fujioka Scholarship for International Law
• Chao Fujioka Scholarship for Public Law and Government Service
• Judge Vedica Puri Family Scholarship
• AABA Law Foundation Scholarship
• Garrick S. Lew Fellowship
  
• State Bar of California Foundation and AABA 3L Diversity Scholarship
• The Sallee Yoo and Jeff Gray Charitable Fund/AABA Law Foundation Summer Grants
• The Justice Harry W. Low Fellowship

It is the policy of the AABA Law Foundation not to discriminate on the basis of age, gender, disability, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, national origin, veteran status, or sexual orientation. Officers and directors of AABA, the AABA Law Foundation, members of the Scholarship selection committee, and their immediate families are ineligible for the Scholarships.

SCHOLARSHIPS

ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN JUDGES’ SCHOLARSHIP

Each year, the Foundation awards the Asian Pacific American Judges’ Scholarship through contributions from Asian Pacific American judges. The Honorable Delbert C. Gee, Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, has been instrumental in organizing the contributions. The Foundation would like to thank and honor this year’s contributing judges.

Raymond L. Ocampo Jr. Family Scholarship

The Raymond L. Ocampo Jr. Family Scholarship, was established in memory of Mr. Ocampo’s parents and in honor of immigrants like them, for the enormous sacrifices they made and the untold hardships they endured in search of a better life for their families.

Joseph and Chang Morozumi Scholarship

Joe Morozumi was one of the first and finest Asian American trial lawyers in the Bay Area. Interned with his family during World War II, Joe Morozumi was fiercely committed to the fight for reparations, and he was also one of the earliest Asian American attorneys to represent political activists pro bono. Joe was an inspirational role model—he was a fearless, tireless, zealous advocate for justice for the poor and the powerless. Through the generosity of Michael G.W. Lee, Joan Haratani, and Dale Minami, the Foundation awards the Joe Morozumi Scholarship to honor his spirit, passion for justice, and his advocacy for the poor and the underrepresented.

Chao-Fujioka Scholarship for international law & for Public law/government service

These two scholarships are funded by the Honorable Margaret Fujioka (Alameda County Superior Court), and Cedric Chao, founder of Chao ADR, PC and former litigation partner of Morrison & Foerster and DLA Piper. The Chao-Fujioka Family Scholarships are intended to recognize and financially assist high performing law students who are interested in public law/government service or international law practice and who aspire to become future leaders in these fields. 

Judge Vedica Puri Family Scholarship

The Judge Vedica Puri Family Scholarship was established in memory of Judge Puri's mother and is awarded to a law student is awarded to an outstanding candidate with a commitment and demonstrated interest to legal and social issues facing women of color.

AABA Law Foundation Scholarship

Through the generosity of AABA members and participants in AABA events and programs throughout the year, AABA raises money for the AABA Law Foundation—and awards the AABA Law Foundation Scholarship to a deserving law student.

AABA recognizes the importance of fostering the growth of law students to improve the future development of the Asian Pacific American bar. AABA will award scholarships to deserving law students who are committed to advocating and improving their communities.

The Garrick s. lew Fellowship

The Garrick S. Lew Fellowship awards $10,000 to a 3L law student committed to a criminal defense practice after graduation. The Fellowship is funded through a grant from the Minami Tamaki Yamauchi Kwok & Lee (MTYKL) Foundation’s Garrick S. Lew Legacy Fund to the AABA Law Foundation, which administers the Fellowship and selects the recipients. The MTYKL Foundation created the Garrick S. Lew Legacy Fund in conjunction with the Lew family to support efforts that continue Garrick’s legacy of advocating for our Asian American communities, AAPIs in the legal profession and criminal defense.

California ChangeLawyers (formerly the State Bar of California Foundation) and AABA 3L Diversity Scholarship

This scholarship opportunity is for a third year law student who plans to sit for the July 2023 California Bar Exam and is committed to community service or public interest work for the Asian Pacific American (APA) community or other underrepresented communities; demonstrates leadership in the APA community; demonstrates financial need; and shows commitment to the Northern California Bay Area. By helping to bear the costs associated with taking the California Bar Exam, the ChangeLawyers Scholarship addresses a critical financial need for many aspiring diverse public interest lawyers. 

Link to application here

The Salle yoo and jeff gray charitable fund/aaba law foundation summer grants

The AABA Law Foundation offers two grants through the Salle Yoo and Jeff Gray Charitable Foundation to help fund summer law clerks with either 1) a summer position with a non-profit legal service organization or public/government agency, working on projects of benefit to the Asian American community or 2) a judicial externship.  The Yoo-Gray family is honored to award these grants to support those lawyers who have chosen to dedicate themselves to increasing access to justice for Californians, especially in our Asian American communities. 

The Justice Harry W. Low Fellowship

The Family and Friends of Justice Harry W. Low have endowed a Fellowship  in honor of Justice Low's  legacy of advocating for civil rights and service to the Asian American communities. The AABA Law Foundation will award a $10,000 Fellowship to a graduating law student with a committed position in public service (either government or non-profit service) or a judicial clerkship.