California Lawyers Foundation (CLF) has received a record 218 scholarship applications from students for the 2026-2027 school year, representing a nearly 90% increase over the number of applicants in 2025. In total, CLF will award up to $60,000 to students in three categories: Pathway to Justice, designed for first year law school students; Future Jurist, reserved for incoming undergraduates; and, California Legal Pathways Collaborative (CLPC) Scholars, dedicated to high school seniors enrolled in the civics education program under the CLF umbrella operating 26 Law Academies across the state.
Students from 16 of the 26 CLPC Law Academies submitted applications, with one attending a recently established Law Academy, Bullard High School in Fresno. Thirty-eight applications were received from students attending 12 universities or colleges across California, with 17 students from Santa Clara University alone. CLF received 157 applications from law students, representing 26 laws schools from across the country.
The 2026-2027 applicants are from diverse backgrounds, sharing stories of challenge and opportunity. “It is incredible to see the number of applicants for our scholarships almost double in just a single year,” says Jerrilyn Malana, CLF President. “It is a clear indication that the need for assistance continues to grow. Each student is so deserving and has such an impressive resume.” Malana added, “Our legal profession’s future shines brighter because of the students we nurture and empower today. By investing in their dreams to become attorneys, we are building the pipeline of legal talent that will uplift and serve our communities for generations to come.”
CLF is grateful to the attorneys, judges and legal professionals whose generosity and commitment make the scholarship program possible. Their ongoing support fuels the aspirations of students and strengthens the future of the legal profession.
To learn more about CLF and support students, visit https://calawyersfoundation.org/