Scholarships & Grants

Michael E. Moritz ’61 created full, in-state tuition scholarships to help Ohio State attract and train students with outstanding academic and personal histories who are dedicated to improving the lives of their clients, their communities, and the profession of law. The scholarships are awarded to entering students only.

In addition to having their law school education paid for entirely and receiving a $2,500 supplemental stipend, these distinguished scholars are partnered with mentors who are recognized leaders in their industries. They meet with their mentors several times a year, including a special evening with other scholars and mentors in the fall.

More than 90 students have benefited from the Moritz family’s generosity since the scholarships were created in 2001. In many cases, these high-achieving students have not only enjoyed professional success without the burden of student loan debt, but they have been inspired by the Moritz story to contribute their skills and personal resources to other causes.

Criteria

The Michael E. Moritz Merit Scholarships in Law are awarded to entering students only. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must take the LSAT by November 2023 and apply for admission to Ohio State by Jan. 1, 2024.

The applicant’s past academic performance, LSAT score, demonstrated capacity for leadership, contribution to the diversity of the law school community, and other factors indicating the applicant’s potential to excel in all aspects of the law school experience are considered by the selection committee.

Some students admitted to the Moritz College of Law, and identified as having the background and credentials qualifying them for consideration as potential Moritz Scholars, will be invited to complete the Michael E. Moritz Merit Scholarships in Law Application. However, all are welcome to apply.

Application Materials & Selection Process

To be considered for a Michael E. Moritz Merit Scholarship in Law, applicants need to submit the following:

• a scholarship application form online
• a directed response essay to lawadmit@osu.edu with your LSAC account number
• and letter of recommendation with the writer’s viewpoints on the applicant’s leadership and academic qualities via email or mail.

Applications, essays and letters of recommendation are to be sent no later than Jan. 17, 2024 to lawadmit@osu.edu or to the address below. Letters of recommendation can be sent directly from the recommender to the email address above. Applications received after the deadline may be considered at the discretion of the Michael E. Moritz Merit Scholarships in Law Selection Committee.

Materials are reviewed by the selection committee, which then selects a group of semifinalists who are invited to interview with a member of the committee. The interview may take place in person or by telephone/Skype.

Directed Response for Essay

Please respond to the following question in 750 words or less:

Leadership is an integral function of membership in the legal profession. Because of their training and understanding of the operation of the government, business, and society, lawyers have a greater responsibility, and more frequent opportunity, than other citizens to assume functions of leadership in society.

Envision yourself taking on a leadership role after law school in any area of your choosing. What would it be, why would you choose it, and how will it make a difference?

Mailing Address

Applications, essays and/or letters of recommendation that are mailed should be posted to: (email is highly encouraged)

Michael E. Moritz Merit Scholarships in Law Selection Committee
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
55 W. 12th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210-1391

Awarded to students who have a record of significant academic accomplishment and potential for success in their legal studies, based primarily upon the cumulative undergraduate GPA and LSAT score(s). Applications for this award are not required, as all admitted students are considered automatically. The most competitive recipients typically have GPAs and LSAT scores above the law school medians. Academic Merit Scholarships are renewable for each year of law school, not to exceed three years total, and one must stay in good academic standing, which means maintaining at least a 2.0 GPA.

Although there are a myriad of definitions for leadership, it may be said that a leader is someone capable of lifting a person's vision to higher sights, of mobilizing others to strive for shared aspirations, to alight people toward a specific vision and provide support to overcome challenges. One expert on leadership defines a leader as an "individual who significantly affects the thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors of a significant number of individuals" -something lawyers do daily. Students demonstrating the potential to serve as leaders while at Moritz and/or as members of the legal profession are eligible for consideration. 

Applications for this award are not required, though applicants are encouraged to submit an essay (not to exceed two pages) that speaks to their leadership abilities. Please submit the essay as a part of your application. If you choose to submit it after you have applied, email the essay to lawadmit@osu.edu.

Leadership Scholarships are renewable for each year of law school, not to exceed three years total. In order to retain a Leadership Scholarship, one must stay in good academic standing, which means maintaining at least a 2.0 GPA.

The Moritz College of Law is committed to enrolling highly motivated individuals with strong academic potential who bring to the College a broad range of personal backgrounds and intellectual experiences. The College seeks to assemble a class that is both academically qualified and broadly diverse.

Social justice embodies the fair and equitable distribution of social, political, economic and other benefits and burdens to all individuals within a state or society. The legal profession is deeply committed to social justice and to the institutions, programs and movements that seek fairness, equity, inclusion and self determination for those communities that are currently or have been historically minorities, marginalized or under resourced. Students that have demonstrated an interest in and commitment to social justice through employment, volunteer efforts, community engagement, or public service are eligible for consideration. 

In an essay, up to two pages, you may provide any information you believe will assist the College in enrolling a diverse class. Applications for this award are not required, though applicants are highly encouraged to submit an essay that speaks to how their diverse life experience will contribute to educational exchange and the legal profession.

Please submit the essay as a part of your application. If you choose to submit it after you have applied, email the essay to lawadmit@osu.edu.

Social Justice Scholarships are renewable for each year of law school, not to exceed three years total, if recipients remain in good academic standing by maintaining a 2.0 GPA.

The Moritz College of Law is committed to increasing the access to legal education for students from all backgrounds. Students that were Pell eligible during their undergraduate education, are U.S. citizens or an eligible non-citizen, and demonstration financial need as determined by FAFSA are eligible to be considered for an Access Scholarship. Factors may also include status as a first generation college student, parental income at high school graduation, or extraordinary financial hardship. 

Applications for this award are not required, If you have questions, please email lawadmit@osu.edu. Access Scholarships are renewable for each year of law school, not to exceed three years total, if recipients remain in good academic standing by maintaining a 2.0 GPA.

Law students are eligible to apply for several university-wide scholarships with very specific criteria. The application deadline for these scholarships is Feb. 15. For application materials and eligibility criteria, visit the university’s Student Financial Aid page.