We take great pride in offering our students exclusive opportunities to receive recognition and financial support through a variety of prestigious awards and scholarships. Made possible by the generosity of our alumni, donors, and friends of the University, these annual awards reflect the strong relationships that continue to shape our community. Below is a comprehensive list of our annual awards, separated by scholarships and externships/fellowships.
Scholarships
Rhoda S. and Albert M. Alexander Memorial Scholarship
An award of up to half-tuition will be made to a 2L or 3L student who is committed to a career in public interest or public service. Scholarship funding preferences are for students who have demonstrated, through coursework, experiential learning or extracurricular activities, an authentic interest in and commitment to a career in public interest or public service. This is a scholarship award that is applied directly to College of Law tuition.
Award: Up to half-tuition
Application Timeline/Deadline: Applications are due in early November. Information is sent out by The Office of Career Services and applications are posted in 12Twenty.
Arthur L. Cohen Scholarship
The Arthur L. Cohen Scholarship Fund was created to give financial assistance to deserving third year students at Syracuse Law. The scholarship will be applied to the cost of tuition, fees, and books. Potential candidates will demonstrate academic merit, financial need, and have a record of community service and co-curricular accomplishments. Added consideration will be given to candidates from St. Lawrence, Lewis, and Jefferson counties in New York State who will likely return to those counties to practice law after graduation.
Award: Value per recipient is anticipated at $7,500-$10,000 for the academic year
Application Timeline/Deadline: The application will open sometime in early May and the deadline for this annual opportunity is early June.
The Hon. Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. Scholarship
The Northern District of New York Federal Court Bar Association (“The Association”) established The Honorable Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. Scholarship program to recognize exemplary law students who attend Syracuse Law. Students currently in their 2L year of law school are eligible to apply. The Association will select one scholar from Syracuse Law to receive a scholarship.
Award: $2,000
Application Timeline/Deadline: This application usually opens in early September annually with a deadline usually in mid-October.
The Tully Rinckey Military Scholarship
This scholarship opportunity, funded by The Tully Rinckey Foundation, is intended for entering or returning law students who have either served or are still currently serving in the military or the reserves.
Award: $3,000
Application Timeline/Deadline: The application cycle opens in late summer and is usually due in late August.
The Hon. David E. Peebles IP Law Scholarship
The Honorable David E. Peebles IP Inn of Court Scholarship Program provides up to a $1,000 award to selected scholars currently enrolled in a J.D. or LL.M. program at a law school in the Northern District of New York in good academic standing, and with a demonstrable interest in intellectual property law. The awards are intended to be used for law school tuition and other related expenses. The selected scholars are also offered student memberships to the Honorable David E. Peebles IP Inn of Court until their date of law school graduation.
Award: Up to $1,000
Application Timeline/Deadline: Usually the deadline is sometime in early April. See here for the applications.
Pat Tillman Foundation Scholarships
Syracuse University was invited to become a Pat Tillman Foundation University Partner in 2017. The Tillman scholar Program unites and empowers remarkable military veterans and spouses as the next generation of public and private sector leaders committed to service beyond self.
Award: Variable amounts
Application Timeline/Deadline: The 2025 Tillman Scholar application for the 2025-2026 academic year will open on Dec. 1, 2024, and close on Feb. 1, 2025. See here for additional information on how to apply.
Externships / Fellowships
SPIN (Syracuse Public Interest Network) Awards
The Syracuse Public Interest Network (SPIN) at Syracuse Law is committed to fostering the public interest careers of students by providing stipends for qualifying unpaid and non-credit public interest summer internships. Public interest employment includes public service, government work, judicial clerkships, and Fellowships. Public interest practice is often considered work done in pursuit of individual or group concepts of justice, equity and advancing the public good, rather than for purposes of commercial or personal gain.
Awards: Awards are dependent on donor funding and may change each year.
Application Timeline/Deadline: Applications are due at the end of March. Information is sent out by the Office of Career Services and applications are posted in 12Twenty.
Externship Opportunity Fund
Syracuse Law recently established an Externship Opportunity fund to help students pursuing unpaid or underpaid externships that are outside of the Syracuse area (JDr) or away from student’s hometown (JDi). The externship must be in-person, unpaid or underpaid, and full time. The purpose of this fund is to provide qualified law students with a stipend to help cover basic living expenses associated with taking an “away” externship.
Award: Awards are dependent on donor funding, with the general award amount being around $2,000.
Application Timeline/Deadline: No application required. Award determined based on externship placement determined each semester
Feinman Fellowship for 3L Externships
Up to two awards will be made to 3L JD students who are committed to a public service externship placement for their spring semester. Grant funding preferences are for students who secure an externship doing (a) criminal defense work on behalf of indigent persons; and/or (b) legal advocacy on behalf of children in the juvenile justice system or direct representation of children in the welfare system; and/or (c) legal policy or research promoting criminal and/or juvenile justice reform on behalf of an organization whose mission it is to represent the rights of those populations.
Awards: Up to Two (2) $2,500 awards
Application Timeline/Deadline: Applications are due in early December. Information is sent out by the Office of Career Services and applications are posted in 12Twenty.
Marty Feinman L’83 Justice Defense Fund
Fellowship for Post Grad
An award will be made to a 3L student who has secured post graduate, public interest employment involving (a) criminal defense work on behalf of indigent persons; and/or (b) legal advocacy on behalf of children in the juvenile justice system or direct representation of children in the welfare system; and/or (c) legal policy or research promoting criminal and/or juvenile justice reform on behalf of an organization whose mission it is to represent the rights of those populations.
Award: Up to $5,000
Application Timeline/Deadline: Applications are due at the end of March. Information is sent out by the Office of Career Services and applications are posted in 12Twenty.