George A. Strait Minority Scholarship
Offered by American Association of Law Libraries
About This Scholarship
The George A. Strait Minority Scholarship honors one of the first Black leaders in American law librarianship — George A. Strait was associate law librarian at Harvard and a champion of opening the profession to people of color. The American Association of Law Libraries awards it to members of minority groups pursuing graduate study toward a law librarianship career.
Applicants must be degree candidates in an ALA-accredited library program or an accredited law school, with meaningful law library experience and the intention of building a career in the field. The scholarship is granted as a lump sum, with the amount set each year based on available funds and the number of awardees selected.
AALL pairs the scholarship with a Strait Fellowship track that adds a working fellowship placement, a stipend, AALL membership, and conference registration. Both run on the association's single annual scholarship cycle, with all materials due April 1 and recipients announced in June.
Eligibility
- Member of a minority group as defined by U.S. government rules
- Degree candidate in an ALA-accredited library school or an ABA-accredited law school
- Intends a career in law librarianship, with law library work experience
- Demonstrated financial need; at least one quarter/semester remaining after the award
How To Apply
- Submit AALL's scholarship application by April 1 with transcripts, proof of enrollment or admission, two letters of recommendation, a personal statement addressing financial need and your law librarianship goals, and a resume. The fellowship component uses the same cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Strait Scholarship?
AALL describes it as a lump-sum award whose size depends on available funds and the number of awardees each year, so there is no fixed published amount.
What is the Strait Fellowship?
A companion program that places recipients in a law library fellowship within a semester or four months of the award, adding a stipend, one year of AALL membership, and annual meeting registration.
Do I need law library experience?
Yes — AALL expects applicants to have law library experience and a demonstrated intention to pursue a law librarianship career.