2026 Scholarship Criteria & Categories

The South Asian Bar Association of Washington is pleased to announce its annual scholarships for law students and recent law graduates. SABAW thanks its sponsors for their support and for funding these scholarships in part. The scholarships reflect SABAW’s commitment to promoting a diverse and an inclusive legal community where South Asian legal professionals have equal participation and opportunities to thrive. Keeping with SABAW’s principles of equity and representation, each award will provide financial support to law students enrolled in the Juris Doctor and LLM programs and graduates who have taken the bar exam in the past year.

Scholarships will be announced at the 2026 SABAW Annual Gala 

SABAW thanks its sponsors for their generosity for funding in part our 2026 Scholarships!

General Criteria: All applicants must be current law students (inclusive of entering 1Ls) or recent graduates (class of 2026); must demonstrate leadership within the South Asian community; and cannot be a current recipient of another SABA or other Minority Bar Scholarship.

Application Instructions: Applications are due by 5pm on Friday. October 16, 2026. Please email your résumé (or an updated LinkedIn profile link) and a cover letter (one page or less) addressed to the Scholarship Committee Chair, Amrita Srivastava at the official SABAW email sabawashington@gmail.com. In your cover letter, please (1) note which scholarship you are applying for, (2) share your leadership experience within the South Asian community, (3) let us know your future plans to continue to engage with and serve the South Asian community, (4) note your current grade point average, and (5) disclose any other scholarships, awards, or other financial support you are currently receiving from SABA or other organizations, if any.

Scholarship Categories & Award-Specific Criteria

• ·       $2500 Law Student Leadership Scholarship: This scholarship is intended for a currently enrolled law student (including entering 1Ls and LLMs in the fall of 2025) who has demonstrated leadership in service to the South Asian community and strong academic performance.
• ·       $2500 Public Service Scholarship: This scholarship is intended for either a currently enrolled law student or recent graduate (class of 2025) who has engaged in or will engage in public interest work or in service to the South Asian community in the 2025 – 2026 academic year.
• ·       $1500 Bar Stipend Award: This scholarship is intended for any law student or attorney, who has passed the Washington Bar in 2025 (February 2025 or July 2025) and has demonstrated leadership in service to the South Asian community and strong academic performance.

*SABAW may award more than one scholarship in each category, or may reallocate funds from one category to another, depending upon the applications received.