American Association of Law Libraries Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by American Association of Law Libraries
Introduction
AALL supports professional development by offering scholarships each year to help people pursue education in legal information. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications for every scholarship for which they meet the qualifications.
Degree-Candidate Scholarships
These awards assist students training to become law librarians—whether enrolled in library school, law school, or pursuing an advanced related degree after finishing library school. Applicants may apply for multiple scholarships if eligible. While preference is given to AALL members and to applicants with law library experience, membership and prior law library experience are not strict requirements. Applicants must provide evidence of financial need.
AALL Scholarship
Funded by contributions from AALL members, this annual scholarship is open to those pursuing a degree at an accredited library or law school who plan careers in legal information, as well as to library school graduates seeking an advanced degree in a related field.
LexisNexis John R. Johnson Memorial Scholarship
Endowed by LexisNexis in memory of John R. Johnson, former director of the law library division at LexisNexis, this annual award supports degree-seekers at accredited library or law schools who intend to pursue careers in legal information, and library school graduates pursuing advanced, relevant graduate study.
Degree-Candidate Application Categories
- College graduate pursuing a library degree: For college graduates with substantive law library experience enrolled in an accredited library school who intend to become law librarians.
- College graduate pursuing a dual law/library degree: For college graduates working toward joint degrees from accredited law and library schools with plans to enter law librarianship.
- Law school graduate pursuing a library degree: For law school graduates enrolled in an accredited library school aiming for a career as law librarians.
- Library school graduate pursuing a law degree: For library school graduates enrolled in an accredited law school planning to work in law librarianship.
- Library school graduate pursuing a non-law advanced degree: For library school graduates enrolled in a graduate program outside of law that will strengthen a professional career in law librarianship.
Degree Candidate Scholarship Application: available online. Deadline: April 1, 2026.
Continuing Education Scholarship — Marcia J. Koslov Scholarship
Established jointly by AALL and Marcia J. Koslov, this scholarship helps AALL members employed in government law libraries attend continuing education programs by providing financial support.
Marcia J. Koslov Scholarship Application: available online. Deadline: April 1, 2026.
George A. Strait Minority Scholarship & Fellowship
This endowed program commemorates long-time AALL member and distinguished law librarian George A. Strait. The endowment was created by Thomson Reuters in partnership with AALL. It offers both scholarships and fellowships to eligible minority candidates preparing for careers in law librarianship.
Eligibility and Requirements for the Strait Scholarship/Fellowship
- Enrollment in an ALA-accredited library graduate program or enrollment in a U.S. law school.
- Membership in a recognized minority group (per current U.S. definitions).
- Intention to pursue a career in law librarianship. Law library experience and related coursework are considered but not required.
- Applicants must indicate whether they are applying for the Scholarship, the Fellowship, or both on the Strait application. Note: Fellowships are ordinarily in-person; remote fellowships are not available. Exceptions to the in-person participation requirement may be granted by the Committee only when applicants document substantial hardship or barriers to attending in person. Sufficient evidence must be provided to support any request for a remote or hybrid exception.
- All required materials must be combined, in the order listed below, into a single PDF and submitted by the deadline.
Required Submission Materials (submit as one PDF, in this order)
1. Strait Scholarship/Fellowship application form
2. Transcripts
3. Two letters of recommendation
4. Personal statement
5. Resume
George A. Strait Minority Scholarship & Fellowship Application: available online. Deadline: April 1, 2026.
General Notes
- Applicants should apply for every scholarship for which they qualify.
- All specified deadlines are firm: April 1, 2026, for the Degree Candidate, Marcia J. Koslov, and George A. Strait applications.
- Follow the application instructions and file-format requirements on the online application pages.