The David M. Rubenstein Scholars Program was established in 2010 by David M. Rubenstein (JD 1973), chair of the University's Board of Trustees and the co-founder and co-chairman of The Carlyle Group. The gift provides select entering students with full-tuition scholarships covering all three years of their studies. These scholarships extend through the Class of 2028.

The Law School recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the David M. Rubenstein Scholars Program with a reunion of current student and alumni scholars. 

The James C. Hormel Public Interest Scholarship was created in 2014 by James C. Hormel, a member of the Class of 1958 and dean of students at the Law School from 1961 to 1967, to provide a three­-year scholarship each year to an entering student who has demonstrated a commitment to public service. 

The Rachel Nussbaum Animal Law Scholarship was established in 2022 by Martha Nussbaum, the Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Ethics, appointed in the Law School and Philosophy Department. The scholarship provides support to a deserving student at the Law School who intends to pursue a career in animal law or policy, or who has a demonstrated history of interest in or advocacy on behalf of animals. It is awarded once every three years, with the next scholarship projected to be awarded for the Class of 2029.

The D. Francis Bustin Educational Fund for the Law School was established in 1971 by provision of the will of D. Francis Bustin (LLB 1917) to give awards, prizes, or scholarships for a valuable and important contribution, proposal, or suggestion for the improvement and betterment of the processes, techniques, and procedures of our government or any of its branches or departments at the city, state, or federal level.

The University of Chicago Law School has established a scholarship program to support students pursuing a dual JD/PhD at the University of Chicago. Through this program, the Law School will reserve a number of financial aid packages for top JD/PhD candidates. These Law scholarships range from a few thousand dollars per year to full-ride scholarships with stipends. JD/PhD scholarships are competitive and the scholarship pool is limited. JD/PhD scholarships are not guaranteed. Funding is not contingent upon obtaining a particular form of employment after graduation. Decisions regarding funding will be made by the JD/PhD Committee after admission and communicated in the financial aid award notification from the Financial Aid Office. 

For additional information about the structure of a JD/PhD, please visit the Dean of Student’s JD/PhD Class Planning and Advising page.

For information on JD/PhD admissions, please contact Meg Krishnan, Director of Admissions and Programs (megkrishnan@uchicago.edu). Please note the admissions process for the JD degree and the PhD degree are entirely separate. We also encourage you to reach out directly to the Admissions Department of the PhD program you are interested in to discuss their requirements, deadlines, and applications.

For information regarding scholarships and financial aid, please contact our Financial Aid Office at financialaid@law.uchicago.edu.

If you are applying for a JD/PhD, we encourage you to apply as early in the admissions cycle as possible to optimize the admissions process. 

The Tony Patiño Fellowship is a prestigious merit award created to support law students whose personal, educational and professional experiences exemplify leadership, character, academic success, good citizenship and initiative.

The Tony Patiño Fellowship was established by Francesca Turner in memory of her son Antenor Patiño, Jr., a law student who passed away on December 26, 1973. Tony believed deeply in helping his fellow students. The Tony Patiño Fellowship operates collaboratively at the University of Chicago Law School, Columbia Law School, and U.C. College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly U.C. Hastings).

Each year, one or two Fellows-Elect are selected from the incoming class of students. Financial need is not a consideration. Candidates are selected from a diverse array of personal and professional backgrounds. Recipients receive a financial award and are invited to participate in Fellowship events, including quarterly dinners with faculty members. The Fellowship may renew the annual award for two additional consecutive years of law school for Fellows-Elect who uphold Fellowship standards and practices. Upon graduation from law school, Fellows-Elect become Tony Patiño Fellows and join a worldwide community of 250 lawyer leaders of character and distinction.

You can find more information about the Tony Patiño Fellowship on the Fellowship's website. Information regarding the application process is shared with admitted students in spring each year.

The University of Chicago Law School is proud to be a part of the Weil Legal Innovators ("WLI") Program, a multi-stakeholder public service initiative established by international law firm Weil, Gotschal & Manges LLP.

Through the program, admitted students defer their first year of study to complete one year of public service at a WLI nonprofit partner organization. The program offers these rising law students a rare opportunity to work on some of the most pressing social and legal challenges at leading nonprofits. The Innovators will focus on issues of gender equality, human rights, racial justice, and ESG, among others.

Each Innovator will receive a $60,000 salary and full benefits package for their engagement. Upon starting law school, they will receive a $10,000 scholarship through the WLI Program toward first-year academic tuition. Weil provides robust professional development and mentorship opportunities throughout the program. The nonprofit partners also receive a $40,000 charitable contribution to help cover operating expenses and costs associated with onboarding the Innovators.

Read more about WLI and apply at the WLI website.