The following awards are presented each spring at the law school's annual Public Service Awards Celebration.
The family and friends of Lisa M. Schnitzer, a first-year Stanford Law School student who died in a car accident in 1987, established this scholarship to be a lasting tribute to her and in recognition of her deeply-held commitment to helping others, particularly those less fortunate. Each spring, the $3,000 scholarship is awarded to a female first-year student who has demonstrated a strong commitment to helping the disadvantaged, who meets the Office of Financial Aid's criteria of financial need, and who will work for a nonprofit organization or government agency during the summer following her first year.
Lisa M. Schnitzer Memorial Scholarship application
Deborah L. Rhode, the Ernest W. McFarland Professor of Law, has endowed this award, which is presented annually to a graduating student (or a team of graduating students) who has demonstrated outstanding nonacademic public service during Law School. The Rhode Public Interest Award recognizes graduating students who have made outstanding contributions to underrepresented groups or public interest causes outside the Law School and/or in public service at the Law School. To be considered for the $3,000 award, the student must be nominated by faculty or other students. The award is given on the basis of merit; all 3L students who meet the award criteria, regardless of financial need, may be nominated.
The Deborah L. Rhode Public Interest Award application
Stanford Law School annually nominates five second- and/or third-year students for scholarships administered by the California State Bar Foundation. Students who have demonstrated a commitment to community service and have financial need are eligible to apply to be one of the Law School's 5 nominees. SLS students have consistently ranked among those statewide to receive the awards which range from $2,500 to $7,500.
Each summer, Stanford Law School students who are deemed eligible for federal financial aid are guaranteed to receive $5,000 to work 10 weeks full-time in the nonprofit organization or government agency of their choice. With contributions from Stanford University, the Stanford Public Interest Law Foundation (SPILF), and other sources, the Law School supports more than 1/3 of the first-year class and a sizeable number of upper-class students who choose to volunteer with nonprofit or government employers around the country and all over the world.
Students who cannot demonstrate financial need may apply for loans equal to the amount of the grant.