By Rena Sera, Esq.
Rena is a 2016 GGU Law
alumna who just passed the bar and is joining a probate law firm in Walnut
Creek. During law school, Rena was
awarded competitive scholarships during her third year of law school from the
FBANC, AABA, APABA-SV and California Bar Foundation. Rena also received several scholarships from GGU
School of Law.
What Should You Do
When Applying for a Scholarship or Writing Contest?
·
Don’t procrastinate!
It is sometimes very tempting to wait until the last minute
to start on that application. You have way too much reading to do in law school
already. But much like how you should not procrastinate on that appellate brief
for your appellate advocacy class, you should resist the urge to procrastinate
on that scholarship application. Why? Because your procrastination will likely
lead you to have a weaker application.
·
Reach out to someone who has won the scholarship
or contest.
See if anyone from GGU has won the scholarship or contest
before. Previous winners can provide you with insight on what the interview was
like or what they wrote about. If you don’t personally know the winner, see if
a career counselor can connect you.
·
Have someone review your application and
personal statement before submitting it.
Too often, we think proofreading our own work is enough.
However, the reality is that sometimes we are not as critical of our own work
as an outsider would be. Thus, if you have a friend, professor, or someone else
you trust review your application and personal statement, it is more likely
that they will catch a spelling or grammatical error. Additionally, they will
give you feedback on the impact of your personal statement on the reader.
·
Submit your application in a timely manner!
I cannot stress this point enough. Treat it like a motion or
pleading that needs to be submitted to the court. If your application is
submitted late, it is very likely that it will not be reviewed by the
scholarship committee. In order to avoid late submissions, pay attention to
deadlines and DON’T PROCRASTINATE!
How Can You Increase
Your Chances of Winning a Scholarship?
·
Be yourself.
During my 3L year, I won four different scholarships. Many
of my friends asked me what I did to win these scholarships when there were so
many others who applied. I think the key is to be yourself and stick to your
own personal brand. Highlight what makes you unique. When I was a new law
student, I didn’t know what it meant to build my own personal brand. However,
as I progressed through law school, I learned that building your own personal
brand meant learning about who you are, what makes you unique, and what it is
you want to do with your law degree. Your own personal experiences are
different from the law student next to you and likely impacted your decision to
go to law school. Highlight a few of those experiences in your application and explain
how those experiences affected you and made you the way you are. This will make
your application more personal and the scholarship committee will gain a better
understanding of who you are.
·
Get to know the members of the organization.
Just as it is important for the scholarship committee to get
to know you through your application and personal statement, it is also
important for the committee to put a face to your name. Many local bar
associations award scholarships to students who are active in their
organizations. Becoming active in the organization means joining the
organization as a student member, attending the organization’s events, and
networking with their members. Mingle with their members at their events and
build friendships. The more members who can vouch for you, the more likely you
are to get the scholarship.
What If You Didn’t
Win the Scholarship You Applied For?
If you end up not winning the scholarship you applied for,
don’t fret. By taking the time to put yourself out there and by networking with
members of the local bar associations, you have built up your professional
network. Reach out to those whom you’ve met and ask them if they’re willing to
be your mentor. Lawyers are more than happy to mentor law students and young
lawyers and show you the ropes as you navigate through law school, bar preparation,
and the first few years of practice.
If You Did Win the
Scholarship You Applied For, What’s Next?
If you were fortunate enough to win a scholarship,
congratulations! However, after you win the scholarship, don’t stop what you
were doing before. Keep up with the relationships that you have built. Keep
attending those bar association events. Keep meeting with the lawyers you have
met. Continue building and nurturing your professional network. Continue making
a name for yourself. Don’t make the members of the organization that awarded
you the scholarship feel like you were only active when you needed the
scholarship. Additionally, when you begin seeking a post-bar position or even
an attorney position, check to see if anyone you met during your quest for a
scholarship can connect you to someone who is seeking a post-bar clerk or an
attorney. Since they already know who you are, they are more likely to help you
out and vouch for you in your job search.
Conclusion
I hope that these tips help you as you apply for
scholarships. Don’t forget to use all of the resources available to you,
including GGU’s law career services or financial aid office. Good luck!
See Funding Your Legal Education, Part I.
