Ms. JD supports law students pursuing summer internships in public interest careers through the Breonna Taylor & Kenneth Walker Civil Rights Scholarship and the Public Interest Scholarship.

We award scholarships to students working to become leaders in the public interest and civil rights community. We are committed to supporting students pursuing these critical careers, and softening the burden faced by those who accept often-unpaid internships in order to demonstrate their passion for civil rights.

Applications for Ms. JD scholarships are now closed. To be notified when 2026 applications open, join the waitlist below.

"IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE CURRENT PULLS STRONGLY TOWARDS BIG LAW, THE MS. JD SCHOLARSHIP HAS HELPED ME RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A COMMUNITY OF FOLKS, BOTH SEEN AND UNSEEN, ROOTING FOR LAWYERS TO USE THEIR SKILLS TO SERVE OTHERS. THIS SCHOLARSHIP HAS MADE IT FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE TO LIVE IN A MAJOR CITY WHILE SERVING IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS IN AN UNPAID INTERNSHIP. AS A BREONNA TAYLOR & KENNETH WALKER SCHOLAR, I AM ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED THAT THERE IS A COLLECTIVE MEMORY OF PEOPLE WHO REMEMBER THIS INJUSTICE AND ARE DEDICATED TO ENABLE OTHERS TO FIGHT AGAINST IT."

Sobechukwu Uwajeh, 2025 recipient of the Breonna Taylor & Kenneth Walker Civil Rights Scholarship

Ms. JD's Public Interest Scholarships are given once per year to a law student pursuing a career in public interest law through a related summer internship.

The definition of public interest law is broad and includes both domestic and international work, direct service, impact litigation, policy work, and government and non-profit work. Former public interest scholarship award recipients have completed internships in immigration law, women’s rights, public health, public defense, government at all levels, and criminal justice reform.

The Breonna Taylor & Kenneth Walker Civil Rights Scholarship was endowed by Munger, Tolles & Olson in 2024.

The scholarship is awarded annually to a law student with a demonstrated commitment to practicing civil rights law and who is completing a related internship. This scholarship is given in addition to the Ms. JD Public Interest Scholarship with the aim of honoring the legacies of Breonna Taylor and Kenneth Walker and supporting aspiring civil rights practitioners in their educational pursuits.

Frequently Asked Questions.

I am not a first-year or second-year law school student (or third-year for part-time students). Can I still apply for the scholarships?

The scholarships are only open to students who are in their first or second year of law school (or third year for part-time students).

I am not completing a summer internship in Public Interest, but I am looking for funding for a fall internship/externship and/or general law school expenses. Am I eligible for this scholarship?

We commend your dedication to the public interest field, but these scholarships are only for a summer internship in public interest or civil rights.

I haven’t heard back from my summer internship applications. Can I still apply?

Yes, you do not need a confirmed summer internship placement to apply. However, if you do not end up accepting an internship in the public interest field, we ask that you return the amount of the scholarship.

Does each scholarship have its own application?

No, there is one application for the Ms. JD scholarships. Each applicant will automatically be considered for both the Public Interest Scholarship and the Breonna Taylor & Kenneth Walker Civil Rights Scholarship.

What materials do I need to apply for the scholarships?

Before starting your application, please be sure to have the following files ready: a copy of your resume, your unofficial law school transcript(s), and one letter of recommendation.

Can you add some information to my application after I have submitted it?

No, we cannot alter or add information to your application form once we have received it (the only exception is if you or your recommender’s contact information changes). Please make sure your application is ready and complete before you submit it. z

What are the expected requirements as a scholarship recipient?

Scholarship recipients must complete their summer placement by working at least 30 hours per week for a minimum of 4 weeks over the summer of 2025.

Please note, should a scholarship recipient not be able to meet this requirement, they have a moral obligation to repay the amount of the scholarship.

Scholarship recipients will also be asked to participate in a fall webinar series highlighting the work of public interest lawyers.

How are scholarship recipients selected?

Scholarship recipients are selected based on academic performance, leadership, and commitment to advancing the status of women in public interest and civil rights law. This commitment can be demonstrated through prior work experience (not necessarily legal in nature), engagement in public service or civil rights work during undergraduate and legal education, and service and volunteer work. Successful applicants demonstrate an understanding of the rewards and challenges of a public interest or civil rights legal career.

I have another question that wasn't answered here.

Reach out to us at programsassistant@ms-jd.org with any other questions.

Transforming Futures.

About the Scholarships.

Meet Our 2025 Scholarship Recipients.

BREONNA TAYLOR & KENNETH WALKER CIVIL RIGHTS SCHOLARSHIP

PUBLIC INTEREST SCHOLARSHIP

Frequently Asked Questions.