$25,000 Awarded Annually to Students Who Stand Up for Others
Total Annual Award Pool: $25,000
4 students receive $5,000
5 students receive $1,000
Awards paid directly to your college, university, or trade school
The Gibbons Legal Community Scholarship was created to recognize young people in the Philadelphia region who embody that same conviction — students who have shown the courage to speak up, stand up, and fight for what is right, even when it was not easy.
Each year, we award $25,000 across nine students from Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. Four students receive $5,000 each. Five students receive $1,000 each. Awards are paid directly to the student’s enrolled college, university, or trade school.
You do not need to be pre-law. You do not need to want to be a lawyer. You need to have a story worth telling and the drive to tell it honestly.
If that sounds like you, we want to hear from you.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, applicants must meet all of the following criteria at the time of application and at the time of award disbursement:
- Be a current senior enrolled at a high school located in Philadelphia or one of the five surrounding counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, or Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
- Have confirmed enrollment at an accredited two-year college, four-year college or university, or trade school for the academic year immediately following graduation.
- Be a resident of Philadelphia or one of the five counties listed above. Applicants are not required to attend school in their county of residence to be eligible.
- Have no prior or current relationship, financial or otherwise, with Gibbons Legal, P.C. or any affiliated entity, including but not limited to clients, employees, contractors, and immediate family members of any of the above.
Gibbons Legal, P.C. reserves the right to verify eligibility at any point in the application or award process. Applications that cannot be verified will be disqualified.
Key Dates
Application Opens
Application Deadline
Winners Announced
How to Apply
The process is straightforward. Here is what you need to know before you submit.
Applications are submitted online through the form on this page. There are no fees, no interviews, and no prior legal experience required.
Before you begin, make sure you have the following ready:
- Your high school name and county
- Your confirmed college, university, or trade school enrollment
- Your essay, saved as a PDF or Word document (500 to 750 words)
- A letter of recommendation, if you choose to include one (optional, submitted as a PDF)
Once you submit, you will receive a confirmation. Only winners will be contacted directly. If you are selected, you will hear from us by September 1, 2026.
A Few Things to Know Before You Submit
- Awards are paid directly to your enrolled institution, not to you personally
- You will be asked to provide proof of enrollment before your award is disbursed
- If you are under 18, a parent or guardian will need to sign the consent section of your application
- Submitting an application does not guarantee an award or an interview
Essay Prompt
Justice, Advocacy, and Standing Up for Others
500 to 750 words
PDF or Word document, submitted via the online application form
Describe a time you stood up for someone who needed a voice, or a cause you believed was worth fighting for, even when it was difficult. What did you learn about fairness, responsibility, and what it means to advocate for others?
*Note: Applicants are not required to reference law or legal careers. Your essay must be your own work, written in your own words. Applications that appear to contain AI-generated content will be disqualified.
