Scholarships & Aid

Financial Assistance

The University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance administers financial aid for students at each school on campus, including the School of Law. The University’s need-based financial aid program is designed to assist students with a combination of financial aid resources, including grant assistance, loans, and/or work-study. 

The School of Law’s Office of Admissions oversees and awards merit-based scholarships and grants. 

In order for any form of financial aid (scholarships, grants, work-study or loans) to post on their accounts, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and identify “University of Maryland, Baltimore” (code 002104) as a recipient institution.

Scholarship Awards

The Office of Admissions awards merit-based scholarships to incoming students for the JD, LLM and MS in Law programs.

  • JD Scholarship Program
    JD applicants are automatically considered for the Maryland Law Scholars Program in the application review process. Scholarship notifications are mailed separately from admission decisions.

  • LLM Scholarship Program
    LLM applicants are automatically considered for the David Hoffman Fellows Program and the Maryland Dean’s Scholars in the application review process. Scholarship notifications are mailed separately from admission decisions.

Prospective students are encouraged to contact the Office of Admissions with any questions about scholarships.

Scholarship and Grant Retention

Merit-based scholarships are renewable so long as the recipient remains enrolled in good standing with regard to both character and academics. We do not offer conditional scholarships.

Need-based grants awarded by the University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance, often described as University Grants, are renewable based on the timely submission of the FAFSA, the determination of financial need, and the availability of funds.

Student Financial Planning

The Office of Student Affairs at Maryland Carey Law includes a Student Financial Planning Coordinator who assists both prospective and current students with the financial aid process. The Student Financial Planning Coordinator can help you understand the various options available and assist you in making your way through what can be a complex and confusing process.

Marilyn Jones
Office of Student Affairs
Student Financial Planning Coordinator
mmjones@law.umaryland.edu
410.706.0873

Maryland Carey Law is a participating institution in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which was established to address the deficit in G.I. Bill benefits facing eligible Maryland law students. Incoming and current Maryland Carey Law students are eligible to apply for program funds. Priority in selection of recipients is given on a first-come, first-served basis and in accordance to the requirements set forth by the Veteran’s Administration. To be considered for G.I. benefits, you must first submit the application. 

Any active duty military or veterans should contact militaryandveterans@law.umaryland.edu with any questions or concerns. One our of our three VA Certifying Officials (Steven Boggs, Matthew Gottlieb, and Amanda Barnes) should be able to assist you. 

We strongly urge you to invest some time becoming familiar with financial literacy tools, especially in the areas of budgeting and repayment of loans.

Federal legislation now provides educational debt relief for some law school graduates. To see the most current and comprehensive updates on the federal programs, visit the Equal Justice Works website and the Income Based Repayment Information website.

The Equal Justice Works website also provides information about state, law school and public service employer loan forgiveness and loan repayment assistance programs (LRAPs).

Public Interest Loan Repayment programs

These programs are currently offered for those that pursue a career in public service. We encourage you to consider the following programs:

Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program (LARP): This program is available through the Maryland Higher Education Commission, and provides educational loan repayment assistance to Maryland Residents who provide public service in Maryland State or local government, or nonprofit agencies in Maryland that serve low income or undeserved residents.  

D.C. Bar Foundation’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program (DCBF):  DCBF provides loan repayment assistance to qualified attorneys working for an eligible employer in Washington, DC. DCBF’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program provides one-year, interest-free, forgivable loans, of up to $12,000 per year, to qualified attorneys so they can continue providing exceptional legal assistance to low-income DC residents.

Maryland Carey Law’s Public Interest Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP)

Maryland Carey Law’s LRAP program awards funds for the purpose of repaying educational student loans to qualified applicants working in public service.  For more information about this program, please contact Marilyn Jones, Director, Student Financial Planning, Office of Student Services, 410-706-0873.

The purpose of the Student Emergency Fund (SEF) is to provide limited financial assistance to students currently enrolled at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law who are experiencing a serious financial hardship due to a sudden or unforeseen event that requires additional emergency monetary assistance.

  1. Approved awards will be issued up to $500.00 per student.
  2. Decisions regarding disbursement of funds are made on a case-by-case basis through the Office of Student Affairs.
  3. Awards do not require repayment.
  4. Students should also consult with student financial aid on the impact of their financial aid package in receiving an award.

Eligibility Criteria:

  1. Applicants must be currently enrolled at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law during the semester they are seeking financial assistance.
  2. Applicants must be in good academic standing and free from disciplinary probation.
  3. Applicants must have a nonrecurring financial hardship resulting from a sudden emergency, accident, or unforeseen event that requires immediate attention. No reasonably anticipated expense will be considered a financial hardship.
  4. Other possible financial resources must have been exhausted and deemed insufficient or not available in a timely manner.
  5. Applicants must be able to provide any and all requested documentation.
  6.  

The SEF cannot be used to cover any of the following expenses:

  1. Tuition, health insurance, study abroad costs,
  2. Parking tickets and other university-imposed fines,
  3. The bar application, bar exam or associated fees, and
  4. Costs for entertainment, recreation, non-emergency travel (e.g., Study Abroad) or other non-essential expenses.

Application Process:

  1. Students must complete the online application.
  2. Provide documentation of the financial hardship.
  3. Requests are reviewed on a case by case basis.
  4. Awardees will also be required to provide documentation confirming that the awarded funds were used to address the need outlined in the student's application.

Applications for the SEF will be reviewed to determine eligibility, and applicants may be required to meet (on-line or via phone call) with the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.