The Public Service Scholarships and Robert Drinan, S. J. Scholarship provide scholarships* to highly qualified applicants who plan to practice law in service of the public. In keeping with Boston College Law School's mission of education for the service of others, this program encourages students to seek careers in the public sector, notwithstanding the expense and associated debts of their legal education and the low salaries associated with such careers. Should recipients not pursue careers in public interest law, they must undertake a moral obligation to repay the scholarship fund for at last as much as the value of the scholarship.

The scholarships are renewable annually for three years of study at the law schools. Recipients are selected by a scholarship committee appointed by the Dean. Letters of application for this scholarship must be received by the admissions office by March 28, 2002. Click here for the application form.

The committee has established the following criteria for evaluating applicants:

· a long standing, demonstrated commitment to service the public through employment, advocacy and/or volunteer activities
· a stated intent to pursue a career in public interest/service law
· evidenced leadership ability, and
· past academic performance and exceptional academic promise.

Financial need as demonstrated on the Need Access or profile application will be used to differentiate among otherwise qualified finalists.

After notification of the awards, but before funds are disbursed, Public Service Scholarship recipients must sign a statement acknowledging their intention to enter a career in public service law and their moral obligation to repay Boston College Law School if they do not choose a public service career for a pre-determined period of time.

Recipients must reapply each year for the award. The committee will ask for an updated resume and list of activities and summer work (either paid or volunteer) that demonstrates the recipient's continued commitment to public interest and public service law. Public Service Scholars will be required to provide new commitment letters each year as described above.

* The Public Service Scholarships are 2/3 tuition annually; the Drinan Scholarship is for $6,000 annually.