A Way to Help Those Most in Need of Justice
LSAC is honored to partner with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) to promote the Marshall-Motley Scholars Program (MMSP). Named in honor of civil rights pioneers Thurgood Marshall and Constance Baker Motley, this groundbreaking program seeks to alleviate the debt burden that can prevent future lawyers from pursuing a career as a civil rights lawyer. The program provides a full law school scholarship for tuition, a reasonable cost of living for room, board, and incidentals, along with a host of other opportunities, for 50 aspiring civil rights lawyers who will advocate on behalf of and alongside Black communities in the American South.
2024 Webinar Recording
LSAC hosted a webinar to share information about the 2024-2025 Marshall-Motley Scholars Program. This engaging discussion, recorded October 31, 2024, answers some of the most common questions about the program. We hope you find it informative and helpful as you consider applying for this important opportunity.
Download transcript of the October 30, 2024 webinar (PDF, 185KB)
How to Apply
The deadline to apply for the 2024-2025 Marshall-Motley Scholars Program was February 5, 2025.
Eligible candidates must be U.S. citizens or students with permanent resident status who are admitted to an ABA-approved law school as first-year and full-time law students for the fall 2025 academic year.
There is no cost to apply, and there are no minimum GPA or LSAT score requirements. Applicants do not have to be accepted into law school at the time of submission; however, if selected as a finalist, applicants will be required to provide proof of acceptance. You can learn more about the program and apply at marshallmotleyscholars.org . Applications are now open!
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the program provide?
The MMSP offers a full scholarship for law school tuition; a reasonable cost of living for room, board, and incidentals; paid summer internships; bar exam fees; and a paid two-year postgraduate fellowship. In return, Marshall-Motley Scholars commit to living and working in the South for eight years with a focus on racial justice advocacy on behalf of Black communities. You can learn more about the program and apply at marshallmotleyscholars.org . Applications opened on November 1, 2024.
What is the deadline to apply for the Marshall-Motley Scholars Program?
The application deadline for this year’s Marshall-Motley Scholars Program was 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Wednesday, February 5, 2025.
What is LSAC doing to support the Marshall-Motley Scholars Program?
LSAC is supporting the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Marshall-Motley Scholars Program by sending an email to qualified individuals, encouraging them to apply. In addition, we hosted a special webinar on October 31, 2024, to enable individuals to learn more about the program, as well as get answers to other law school admission-related questions.
Why is LSAC supporting this program?
LSAC’s mission is to promote quality, access, and equity in law and education, and we believe this scholarship program is a great example of a program designed to help support those goals by providing a full three-year scholarship, internships, and a two-year postgraduate fellowship to 50 students during a five-year period.
Regarding the requirements for applying for the scholarship, can I use the recommendation letters from my LSAC account?
Yes, however, all MMSP Letters of Recommendation must be submitted by the recommender through the MMSP Applicant portal. The recommender may submit a duplicate of the letter submitted to LSAC. MMSP recommenders must use the MMSP portal to directly upload Letters of Recommendations even if they have previously been submitted to LSAC. Please review the Application Guide (PDF, 346KB) for more details.
I plan to attend school in fall 2025 part-time. Can I still apply for this scholarship?
Part-time law students are not eligible for the program at this time. The program is designed to support the development of aspiring lawyers who are admitted, or expect to be admitted, to an ABA-accredited law school as a first-year, full-time law student. However, please visit Fellowships & Internships to learn more about other LDF opportunities for which you may be eligible. Additionally, please visit LDF Careers
to learn more about LDF Career opportunities available.
Should I apply after I take the LSAT even if it will be past the deadline?
No. Applications submitted without an LSAT/GRE Score Report are considered incomplete and will not be given further consideration. Scores must be included with your application by the deadline of February 5, 2025. Please continue to visit the Marshall-Motley Scholars Program homepage for announcements and updates regarding upcoming application cycles. If you have any additional questions, please visit About MMSP
, Frequently Asked Questions
, and Application Instructions (PDF, 346KB)
for more details.
I am interested in applying to the MMSP, but I do not plan on attending law school until Fall 2026 or later. Will this program be available after the fifth cohort is selected?
At this time the Program is designed for five cohorts in total. Please continue to check the website for program updates.
Related Resources on LSAC.org
Why Access to Law School Matters
When people from a wide range of backgrounds add their views and experiences to our legal system, that system becomes more able to provide justice to all our communities. Learn more about access and community in law school and how LSAC supports that cause.
Finding the Right School
Whether you’re interested in a career in civil rights law or some other area of the legal system, it’s important to select a law school that can best support your legal education journey. On LSAC.org, you’ll find a variety of resources to help you make an informed choice and start your own journey with confidence.