About

DLA Piper is currently accepting applications to two scholarship programs to support student athletes and veterans interested in pursuing a legal career: LEAP (Legal Elite Athlete Pipeline) and BRAVO (Building Relationships to Advance Veterans’ Opportunities). The goal is to promote the next generation of lawyers by providing opportunities to students and veterans who might not have considered law as a career but have what it takes to succeed – discipline, focus, resilience, and leadership.

The program is administered by Scholarship America, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.

Eligibility

Applicants to the Legal Elite Athlete Pipeline and Building Relationships to Advance Veterans’ Opportunities Scholarships must meet the eligibility requirements for whichever scholarship award they are applying for.

LEAP (Legal Elite Athlete Program)

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be 18 years old or the age of majority in their state of residence (whichever is greater)
• Be interested in pursuing a legal degree on a part-time or full-time basis in the United States to practice in the United States following law school
• Have completed at least two years of undergraduate study at an accredited United States college or university
• Have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
• Have participated in at least two (2) years in a competitive intercollegiate athletic program offered by an accredited college or university
• Plan to enroll in an LSAT prep course or apply to an ABA-accredited law school within one year of finishing the scholarship program

BRAVO (Building Relationships to Advance Veterans’ Opportunities) Scholarship Program

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be 18 years old or the age of majority in their state of residence (whichever is greater)
• Be enrolled or have graduated from an accredited United States college or university on a part-time or full-time basis
• Have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA
• Plan to enroll in an LSAT prep course or apply to an ABA-accredited law school within one year of finishing the scholarship program
• Have served in the United States military, this includes the Reserves and National Guard, and be honorably discharged (no longer drilling or serving) veterans who have received a Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs or DD Form 214 or another document of service stating “Honorable Discharged” by the program application deadline date.

Awards

LEAP and BRAVO Awards

If selected as a recipient, the student will receive $1,000 intended for LSAT course-related expenses and application fees and a $5,000 law school scholarship. Up to 20 LEAP awards will be granted and up to 20 BRAVO awards will be granted.

Awards are not renewable.

Awards are for ABA-accredited law schools only.

Notification

All applicants will be notified in February 2026.

Notifications are sent via email. When setting up your account, avoid using a school or work email. Instead, use an active, personal email address that you will continue to have access to.

Please make sure to add studentsupport@scholarshipamerica.org as well as the program email address as safe senders in your email contact list.

Payment of Scholarships

Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of DLA Piper in August 2026. Payments made directly to law schools will be made on an ongoing basis, subject to law school enrollment.

Selection of Recipients

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:

• Academic performance
• Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities

Work experience

A statement of educational and career goals and objectives

Personal circumstances

An online recommendation

Selection of recipients is made by Scholarship America. In no instance does any officer or employee of DLA Piper play a part in the selection.

Applicants must authorize background checks to be conducted by the Sponsor in order to receive an award.

Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. Students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.

All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.

Requirements

As part of your application, you must upload the following:

• A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display:
• Student name
• School name

Grades

Credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.

BRAVO award applicants must provide a DD Form 214 or another document which indicates honorable discharge. Please black out Social Security Numbers and any other sensitive personally identifiable information.

One online recommendation form must be submitted on your behalf no later than November 7, at 3:00 PM Central Time.

Your application is not complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically.