2021 SCCLA Scholarship & Fellowship Application

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHINESE LAWYERS ASSOCIATION

2021 SCHOLARSHIP/FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY

THURSDAY, JULY 1, 2021 at 5:30 P.M. (PST)

TIME OF SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 5:30 PM (PST)

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 law school graduates from the class of 2021 to apply.

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 the Greater Los Angeles area. Law students at all levels are encouraged to apply. There is no clerkship requirement for Scholarships. Scholarship recipients must attend SCCLA’s Virtual Scholarship Ceremony in order to receive their scholarships. The date and time of the ceremony will be shared once confirmed.

SCCLA Fellowships fund externships/clerkships for qualifying non-profit organizations with special consideration given for organizations serving or working on issues that impact the APA community. 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 qualifying non-profit organizations. Fellowship recipients must attend the Scholarship Ceremony if selected as a recipient. See below for additional Fellowship requirements and guidelines.

To be considered for a SCCLA Scholarship or a SCCLA Fellowship, please complete this application and submit your resume and a law school transcript (unofficial transcripts are acceptable).

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 qualifying non-profit organization based in southern California. Areas may include but are not limited to domestic violence, immigration, litigation, elder law, disability law, homelessness prevention, and other areas that advocate for social justice, assist low income individuals and families, or impact Asian Pacific American communities.

In addition to the application, Fellowship applicants must submit: (1) resume, (2) law school transcript (unofficial transcripts are acceptable), and (3) verification of completed fellowship hours completed by their supervisor. Download and print certification form HERE.

Requirements and Guidelines

1. A qualifying non-profit organization must be a southern California 501(c)(3) organization that provides free legal services for low-income individuals and families. Special consideration will be given to those fellowship applicants that worked at a non-profit organization that serves the Asian American and Pacific Islander community or issues that impact this community.
   
2. Fellows are expected to work 150 hours per semester (minimum of 15 hours per week for at least 10 weeks).
   
3. Fellowship applicants must submit verification of hours worked from the non-profit organization using the attached certification form.
   
4. Up to three separate fellowships will be awarded per year. A previous fellowship recipient can apply for a second fellowship, so long as all requirements are additionally met for the second fellowship.
   
5. 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.
   
6. Selected fellows may also use their Fellowship to receive academic credit so long as expressly permitted by their school.
   
7. If the position at the non-profit organization is paid, such as through grants or stipends, please disclose the amount received in the application below.
   
8. Potential candidates may be contacted if there are multiple eligible applicants. Once selected, a fellow may be further interviewed by the Fellowship donor for networking purposes.
   
9. Attendance at the Virtual Scholarship Ceremony is mandatory for selected fellows.