The Public Interest Scholarship Program recognizes top California law students who demonstrate a commitment to public service, an intent to pursue a career in public interest law, academic excellence, and financial need. The Scholarship helps pay the costs of obtaining a law school education, including tuition, fees, books, and related law school education expenses. Candidates must be nominated by their law school.

The Public Interest Scholarship is awarded in the fall of 2012 for the 2012-2013 academic year. The 2012 Application Deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 14, 2012.

Criteria

1. Candidate must be enrolled in a California law school:
   • At the time of submitting a Public Interest Scholarship Application (spring 2012); and
   • In the academic year for which the Public Interest Scholarship is awarded (2012-2013).

2. Candidate must have completed at least one year of study at a California law school by the time Public Interest Scholarships are distributed in October 2012.

3. Candidate must demonstrate and document a strong commitment to public service, intent to pursue a public interest legal career after law school, and financial need, as shown by financial aid eligibility and outstanding educational loans.

4. Candidate must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA or equivalent on a 4.0 scale (or provide an explanation of extenuating circumstances if GPA is lower) and provide the grading curve used at Candidate's law school.

5. Candidate's law school must certify:
   • Good ethical standing of Candidate while attending law school; and
   • Candidate's financial need.

6. Candidate must be chosen as one of a maximum of five Candidates nominated by his/her law school.

7. Candidates from online law schools must be California residents.

8. Candidate must intend to practice law in California after graduation from law school.

9. Previous Foundation scholarship winners are eligible for the Public Interest Scholarship; any prior awards received by Candidate may be taken into consideration in the selection process.

Instructions

1. All portions of the Application must be received by the Foundation by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 (the "Application Deadline"). Attachments, letters of recommendation, and law school documents may be submitted separately, though Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit one packet with all application materials. Please note that in order to provide enough time to select its nominees, a law school typically requires that Candidates submit their Applications to the law school by a date earlier than the Foundation's Application Deadline.

2. Applications may be submitted by mail, delivery service, fax, or email as a PDF to:

   Public Interest Scholarship
   California Bar Foundation
   180 Howard Street
   San Francisco, CA 94105
   Fax: (415) 856-0788
   jguillory@calbarfoundation.org

   Fax is the least optimal way to submit the application, though it is permitted. If faxing, please make sure that all pieces of the application are easily readable and sent together.

3. Applications postmarked by the Application Deadline but not received in full by the Application Deadline will not be accepted.

4. All documents submitted in association with Candidate's Application for the Public Interest Scholarship, including law school documents and letters of recommendation, should include the name of Candidate on each page.

5. Applications submitted in hard copy form should have no staples.

6. Applications submitted via email should be sent as a single PDF document, though recommendatons may come directly from the recommender.

7. See the Application Checklist for a complete list of documentation that must be submitted.

Conditions

1. Public Interest Scholarship Recipients must:
   • Attend a reception in their honor, which is currently scheduled for early October in Los Angeles. The Foundation will provide stipends to help cover the travel costs of attending this event for Recipients who do not attend law school in the San Francisco Bay Area. Failure to attend may result in forfeiture of Recipient's Public Interest Scholarship, without notice.

   • Provide the Foundation, in a timely fashion, contact information for every date between the Application Deadline and the date of the Scholarship Reception. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture oof Recipient's Public Interest Scholarship, without notice.

   • Arrange to have the Foundation receive an end-of-the-year transcript for the 2011-2012 academic year by August 1. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of Recipient'ss Public Interest Scholarship, without notice.

   • Report back to the Foundation on their legal careers following their law school graduation.

2. Public Interest Scholarship Recipients will be requested to provide a recent digital photograph of themselves upon receiving notification of their award. Please do not send photos with Application.

3. The Foundation reserves the right to use information from Applications and letters of recommendation as part of its publicity of Public Interest Scholarship Recipients.

4. Public Interest Scholarship Recipients are expected to pursue public interest legal careers after law school.

5. Public Interest Scholarship Award Recipients receiving named scholarships may be asked to contact donors supporting their scholarships and invited to attend firm events.