As part of our ongoing mission to support our Law Student Members, the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association awards between $11,000 and $16,000 to talented and deserving law students each year. The MBLA awards four scholarships annually: The Fletcher “Flash” Wiley MBLA Legacy Award (up to two students, $5,000 each), The Honorable Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland Leadership and Juvenile Advocacy Award ($2,000), The Honorable Reginald Lindsay Public Service Award ($2,000), and The Honorable Justice Geraldine S. Hines Civil Rights Award ($2,000). Awards are only open to MBLA Law Student Members. Although students may apply for more than one of the above named scholarships, no student will be awarded more than one scholarship in any given year.
Scholarship applications will open on January 13, 2026. Each scholarship application must include a completed cover sheet identifying the applicant’s name, law school, and the specific scholarship for which the applicant is applying. In addition, all applicants are required to submit a cover letter addressing the eligibility criteria and requirements unique to each scholarship, as outlined below.
The deadline for submission of all scholarship application materials is Friday, February 13, 2026. Applications that are incomplete or submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
*All application materials must be submitted as one consolidated PDF and emailed to scholarships@mablacklawyers.org. Please clearly label the PDF file with your name and the scholarship for which you are applying.
This award was established to support the development of students who, like Chief Justice Ireland, have exhibited a…
This award seeks to support the development of students who, like Judge Lindsay, have overcome adversity to use their outstanding academic ability and skills in public service.
This award seeks to support the development of students who, like Past MBLA President Fletcher “Flash” Wiley, display academic and professional excellence, exhibit a…
The Honorable Geraldine S. Hines Civil Rights Award seeks to support the development of students who, like Justice Hines, have used their outstanding academic ability and…
If you would like to support our scholarships you can do so by making a contribution to the MBLA Building The Legacy Scholarship Fund. This fund was created through a partnership with the Boston Bar Foundation. As the BBF is a 501(c)(3) organization, all contributions to the fund are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.
Questions regarding the MBLA Scholarships or the application process may be directed to the Co-Chairs of the Student Support Committee, Freddy Philantrope and Stacy Daniel, at scholarships@mablacklawyers.org.