USA Scholarships
M. Dick Osumi Civil Rights Scholarship 2027
The M. Dick Osumi Civil Rights and Public Interest Scholarship is a JABA Educational Foundation award named for former JABA president M. Dick Osumi, a civil rights and labor lawyer. JEF offers the scholarship to law students and recent graduates who plan to practice civil rights law, public interest law, or public policy and who show a connection to the Japanese American and/or API community plus a demonstrated commitment to community service. Reviewers may also weigh financial need, adversity, academic achievement, leadership, and past or future involvement with JABA. Dollar amounts follow the foundation''s annual slate, historically about $2,000 per named scholarship. Email [email protected] with questions and watch jabaonline.org/jef for application materials. The published 2026 cycle closed January 18, 2026; expect a similar mid-January deadline for the 2027 intake.
What is the M. Dick Osumi Civil Rights and Public Interest Scholarship?
M. Dick Osumi spent decades in labor and civil rights law before leading the Japanese American Bar Association, and JABA''s Educational Foundation named this scholarship after him so future lawyers remember that bar associations can fund justice work, not just networking lunches. The award sits inside JEF''s annual bundle of named scholarships, each tied to judges, attorneys, or sponsors who shaped Asian American legal history in California and beyond.
You are not applying because you once visited Little Tokyo on a field trip. JEF looks for a real connection to the Japanese American and/or API community plus service you can document, whether that is clinic work, union advocacy, or neighborhood legal education. Pair that story with a clear plan to practice civil rights, public interest, or policy rather than a vague interest in "helping people."
Los Angeles is where JABA writes the checks, yet the eligibility page speaks to law students broadly. Southern California ties may help your narrative if you plan to practice there, but the geographic gate is community connection and career intent, not a California driver license.
Watch jabaonline.org/jef and JEF''s social channels for the PDF or portal link, then submit before the mid-January deadline JEF has used for years. Email [email protected] if a recommender needs clarification on what makes the Osumi fund different from the Aiso, Tamura, or Yamamoto awards in the same packet.
Eligibility
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✓Current law student or recent law graduateYou must be enrolled in an accredited law school or have graduated recently enough to qualify under JEF rules when you apply.
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✓Japanese American and/or API community connectionJEF requires a meaningful connection to the Japanese American and/or Asian Pacific Islander community, not merely geographic residence in California.
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✓Community service commitmentShow sustained volunteer or pro bono work. Past JABA scholarship winners often cite union, clinic, or neighborhood service in their applications.
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✓Civil rights or public interest career intentExplain how you plan to practice civil rights law, public interest law, or public policy. The Osumi fund is distinct from general merit awards in the JEF portfolio.
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✓Complete JEF application materialsSubmit every document JEF requests for the annual scholarship cycle. Incomplete packets are not forwarded to the selection committee.
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✓Prior applicants may reapplyJEF encourages students who were not selected in an earlier year to submit again when they still meet eligibility rules.
Benefits
- Typical award size About $2,000 (varies by cycle)
- Career focus Civil rights, public interest, public policy
- Geographic scope Law students nationwide may apply
- Selection factors Service, API ties, need, merit, leadership
- Named fund Honors M. Dick Osumi
- Full tuition Not covered
Document checklist
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✓JABA Educational Foundation scholarship applicationUse the application packet JEF publishes on jabaonline.org/jef or distributes through its Facebook and Instagram channels for the active cycle.
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✓Law school transcriptProvide an official or unofficial law school transcript that reflects your current academic standing.
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✓Resume or CVSummarize legal internships, clinics, community service, leadership roles, and any JABA involvement.
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✓Personal statement or essaysFollow JEF prompts that explain your civil rights or public interest goals and your ties to the Japanese American and/or API community.
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✓Financial need documentation if requestedJEF lists financial need as a selection factor. Be ready to explain hardship or limited resources if the application asks.
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✓Letters of recommendationSubmit the number and type of references JEF specifies, ideally from professors, employers, or community leaders who know your service record.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the M. Dick Osumi Civil Rights and Public Interest Scholarship?
It is a named scholarship from the Japanese American Bar Association Educational Foundation honoring civil rights attorney M. Dick Osumi. The fund supports law students and recent graduates pursuing civil rights, public interest law, or public policy who have API community ties and a service record.
Who is eligible for the Osumi scholarship?
Current law students and recent law school graduates with a connection to the Japanese American and/or Asian Pacific Islander community and demonstrated community service may apply. You should also show intent to work in civil rights, public interest, or public policy.
How much is the M. Dick Osumi scholarship worth?
Award sizes follow JEF's annual budget. Historical cycles listed about $2,000 per named scholarship, though third-party databases sometimes cite a $2,000 to $3,000 range. Confirm amounts when JEF publishes the active cycle.
When is the JABA Osumi scholarship deadline?
The JABA Educational Foundation listed January 18, 2026 for the most recent published cycle. Expect a similar mid-January date for 2027 and verify on jabaonline.org/jef before you submit.
Do I need to live in California to apply for the Osumi scholarship?
No statewide residency rule appears on JEF materials. Selection may favor ties to Southern California practice in some companion listings, but the foundation describes scholarships as open to qualifying law students generally.
How do I apply for the M. Dick Osumi scholarship?
Use the JABA Educational Foundation application published on jabaonline.org/jef. Email [email protected] if you need the current packet or have eligibility questions.
Can recent law graduates apply for JEF scholarships?
Yes. JEF states that recent law school graduates may apply alongside current students when they meet community, service, and career-intent requirements.
What is the difference between the Osumi and Yamamoto JEF scholarships?
Both honor civil rights legacies. The Osumi fund is named for M. Dick Osumi, while the Elmer Yamamoto Civil Rights and Public Interest Scholarship honors another pioneering Japanese American lawyer. JEF may offer both in the same application cycle with separate selection.
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