he University of California, Irvine School of Law (UCI Law) and Point Foundation (Point) have established a scholarship initiative for Point alumni and graduating Point Scholars. With a shared vision to empower promising students to achieve their full potential to become leaders and make a significant impact on society, the collaboration will offer Point Scholars access to scholarship funds at UCI Law. Through this scholarship initiative, Point alumni and graduating Scholars interested in the study of law will be able to obtain an affordable legal education at one of the nation’s top public law schools.
The initiative guarantees a minimum scholarship for Point Scholars or alumni of Point’s Flagship, Community College, and BIPOC programs who have graduated from an undergraduate or graduate program and are later admitted into UCI Law’s Juris Doctor (J.D.) program. Successful applicants admitted to UCI Law, who are part of this scholarship initiative, will receive a minimum $30,000 tuition scholarship per year — available for both residents and nonresidents — to help offset the costs of attending UCI Law. Admitted students will also receive support from student leaders of OutLaw at UCI Law, a student organization committed to facilitating civic and social activities by and for the LGBTQIA community at the law school.
To be eligible for the guaranteed scholarship, applicants must have academic credentials (a minimum UGPA and LSAT score) meeting or exceeding the median UGPA and LSAT scores for the UCI Law entering J.D. class of the prior year. Point Scholars who surpass the required minimum LSAT and UGPA criteria may be eligible for additional scholarship assistance. Even students with credentials lower than the requirements may still receive substantial scholarship support. Prospective students can submit applications as early as September of the preceding year of their intended enrollment. Early applications are encouraged due to the rolling admissions process. The deadline for Binding Early Decision Applications is November 15 each year.
Point is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students studying on campuses across the United States. Point supports students through scholarship funding, mentorship and leadership development programs, conferences, and networking opportunities. Point alumni include elected officials, doctors, scientists, filmmakers, authors, lawyers, academics, business professionals and entrepreneurs. Fifty-five percent of Point Scholars are first-generation college students, and 84 percent identify as students of color or are bi/multi-racial.
“The collaboration between UCI Law and Point Foundation exemplifies our shared commitment to academic excellence, while increasing access to higher education and helping students succeed,” said UCI Law Dean and Chancellor’s Professor of Law Austen Parrish. “Point’s mentorship, leadership and community programs provide tremendous preparation for LGBTQ students interested in law school and Point’s emphasis on mentorship and community aligns perfectly with UCI Law’s commitment to giving back. We’re proud of this partnership that will provide a pathway to law school for talented Point Scholars.”
Public service, pro bono, experiential learning, and a founding mission to provide students from underrepresented backgrounds access to legal education are core commitments at UCI Law. The school’s Michael G. Ermer Pro Bono program may be the largest of its kind in the nation, and all students must complete a clinic experience prior to graduation. This year, 30 percent of UCI Law’s Class of 2026 J.D. students identify as members of the LGBTQIA community, and over 25 percent identify as first-generation.
“We are excited to collaborate with UCI Law in this forward-thinking initiative,” said Point Executive Director and CEO, Jorge Valencia. “Supporting LGBTQ students studying law is supporting a better future. Students pursuing their academic dreams now will go on to make changes in their communities, creating a more equitable future in the world of law and beyond.”
“I am beyond thrilled about this collaboration between Point Foundation and UCI Law, which is an investment in empowering our LGBTQ+ legal community,” said Ce-Lai Powell Fong, a third-year UCI Law student and current president of OutLaw, the LGBTQ+ affinity group at UCI Law.
“I am grateful for the student leaders at OutLaw at UCI Law, who lead by example and have been deeply supportive of developing this partnership to continue our strong support of talented LGBTQ students interested in a career in law,” Dean Parrish added. “We are proud that our students, faculty and staff are committed to providing access for students who may have faced barriers to education, and we are looking forward to welcoming more Point Scholars to UCI Law.”
A leader in innovation and reinventing legal education, UCI Law has announced various partnerships designed to recruit talented students to the law school. Most recently, collaborations have occurred to recruit talented engineering and humanities students as well as students from UCI’s undergraduate honor collegium. Additional partnerships will be announced over the coming year.
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