HLA’S DEI RECEPTION SCHOLARSHIPS
We are excited to offer our TWO DIFFERENT scholarships at our second annual Driving Excellence and Impact Luncheon.
FEBRUARY BAR EXAM SCHOLARSHIP
Raised live at the 70th annual HLA Gala.
Offered to EIGHT Houston law students or JD graduates in Houston sitting for the Texas Bar Exam in February 2026.
Each winner will be awarded $2,000.
APPLICATION
Applications open October 13, 2025.
A complete application must be received by 7:00 p.m., October 31, 2025, to be considered for an award.
Winners will be announced on November 7, 2025.
The awards will be given on November 18, 2025, at the Driving Excellence & Impact Luncheon. Winners MUST be present!
SELECTION CRITERIA
A demonstrated commitment to developing and promoting the African American community through law.
Academic performance in law school.
Leadership skills, community activities and/or special accomplishments.
Financial need.
REQUIREMENTS
Membership in an underrepresented minority group.
Current enrollment from a Houston-area, ABA-accredited law school (i.e., South Texas College of Law, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and University of Houston Law Center). Or a Houston resident if a JD graduate applying for the February Bar Scholarship.
ONE PDF including:
Completed scholarship application form.
Law School transcript(s) (unofficial version accepted).
Current resume.
Essay with word count included.
February Bar Exam Scholarship Essay - In 500 words or less, describe a challenge you’ve faced on your path to becoming a lawyer and how you overcame it. How has that experience shaped your commitment to serve others through the practice of law?
Judge Belinda Hill Scholarship Essay - In 500 words or less, describe how your background and experiences have shaped your understanding of justice and reform. How do you plan to use your legal education to be a change agent and make a meaningful impact within the criminal justice system?
Documentation if applying for February Bar Scholarship
TBLE Documentation of Registration for the Texas State Bar Exam in February 2026.
Proof of current Houston residency (if a non-Houston law school graduate).
Please ensure your pdf is titled First Name Last Name - HLA Scholarship (e.g. Traci Gibson - HLA Scholarship).
FAQs
Both scholarships are open to all law school levels (1L, 2L, or 3L).
Both scholarships have the same application, but different essays.
Applicants may apply for both scholarships but can only be selected for one award.
To apply for both, please submit one completed application with both essays in one pdf along with all other required materials.
HOW TO APPLY
The application form and document submission can be completed electronically.
INAUGURAL JUDGE BELINDA HILL SCHOLARSHIP
In honor of the first Black woman to preside over a criminal district court in Harris County.
Offered to ONE student currently attending a Houston area law school.
The winner will be awarded $2,500.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2025 FEBRUARY BAR WINNERS
