Chancellor's Scholarship

The Chancellor’s Scholarship Program awards a limited number of full-tuition scholarships to students interested in pursuing careers in public interest law.

Scholarship recipients typically have an exemplary academic record (3.5 GPA or higher and LSAT of 160 or higher) and can demonstrate, through academic or professional history, significant public service activities prior to coming to law school.

Application Process

The Chancellor’s Scholarship requires an additional application, due by January 15th. Scholarship recipients will be notified in mid-March.

Students should apply for admission to Denver Law, first, and then submit a separate application for the Chancellor’s Scholarship Program. We recommend completing your application for admission by January 1st.

To apply, please submit the following documents:

1. Chancellor’s Scholarship Application
2. An essay, of not more than two pages, describing your background and experience, emphasizing your public interest involvement.
3. Resume that lists all previous public interest involvement along with other work experience and activities.
4. Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your previous or present public interest activities.

Submission instructions: The essay and resume can be uploaded to your Chancellor’s Scholarship Application. Letters of recommendation can be mailed or emailed to our office, at the following address:

University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Chancellor’s Scholarship Program
2255 E. Evans Ave
Denver, CO 80208
Email: admissions@law.du.edu
Phone: 303.871.6135

If you would like to use a recommendation letter from your JD application, please email a request, with the recommender’s name, to admissions@law.du.edu.
Important: If using a letter from your JD application, be sure that the recommender is familiar with your public interest activities and has addressed those in the recommendation.

Program Requirements

Students accepted as Chancellor’s Scholars must demonstrate their commitment by maintaining a high degree of involvement in the public interest sector. Students are expected to complete 300 hours of public service work before they graduate. This can be legal, law adjacent, or non legal work. Students work with the Chancellor’s Scholar advisor to identify public sector partners. Examples of organizations in the community where Chancellor’s Scholars have volunteered include:

• ACLU
• CASA
• Center for Biological Justice
• Center for the Rights of Parents with Disabilities
• Colorado Public Defender
• El Centro Humanitario para Los Trabajadores
• Human Rights Advocacy Center
• Legal Aid
• Project Safeguard
• Public Safety Review Commission
• The Color of Justice, Inc.
• The Legal Center
• SafeHouse Denver

Chancellor’s Scholars are also expected to participate in public interest activities on campus and to be active in the Chancellor’s Scholars student organization.

The Chancellor’s Scholars student organization is the student-run service and social arm of the scholarship program. Through the organization, the Scholars have a great opportunity to get to know each other, through social events and a formal mentoring program that matches up first year Scholars with second and third years. The Scholars run themselves much like any other organization on campus, hosting events, bringing in speakers, and organizing service opportunities in the community.

• Click here to read biographies of current Chancellor Scholars