Inclusion Awards & Scholarships

Inclusion Awards

Scholarships

APABA Silicon Valley Achievement Scholarship (APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN)
APABA Silicon Valley and BALIF Joint Scholarship (APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN)
APABA Silicon Valley Diversity Bar Study Scholarship – Sponsored by the CLA Litigation Section (APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN)

---

2026 APABA Silicon Valley Achievement Scholarship

The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley (“APABA Silicon Valley”) Charity Foundation is pleased to invite applications for the APABA Silicon Valley Achievement Scholarship. This scholarship is focused on, but not limited to, helping students who are interested in pursuing public interest legal work (e.g., government work, service to under-represented communities, immigration issues, or human trafficking issues related to the AAPI community). The scholarship aims to recognize law students in the greater Bay Area who have:

• Overcome personal hardships or challenges;

• Shown excellence and achievement in law school;

• Demonstrated leadership potential and a history of involvement with student, professional, or civic organizations; and

• Demonstrated leadership and service to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

AWARDS: Up to five (5) scholarships of $5,000 each.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

1. Résumé submission. Please include grade point average if applicable. Grade point average and enrollment are subject to verification.

2. Essay submission (two page maximum). The essay should address how the applicant satisfies the above-mentioned purpose of the scholarship.

3. Interview. Finalists will be interviewed on Sunday, April 26, 2026.

In addition, APABA Silicon Valley Charity Foundation requires that all scholarship recipients:

• Attend and volunteer at the APABA Silicon Valley Annual Gala in Fall 2026;

• Become a Student Member of APABA Silicon Valley (free of charge – sign up here);

• Participate as APABA Silicon Valley’s Student Liaison at their school by advertising APABA Silicon Valley events and encouraging fellow law students to attend APABA Silicon Valley events and advertising scholarships for the APABA Silicon Valley Charity Foundation;

• Join and actively participate in an APABA Silicon Valley Committee; and

• Become a New Member with APABA Silicon Valley upon graduation.

Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. PST, Friday, March 27, 2026. Please click here for the flyer. If there are any questions, please feel free to contact us at scholarship@apabasv.com. Please email your applications to scholarship@apabasv.com.

2026 APABA Silicon Valley & BALIF Joint Scholarship

The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley (“APABA Silicon Valley”) Charity Foundation and the Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom Foundation (“BALIF Foundation”) are pleased to announce a special joint scholarship for law students who have a demonstrated commitment to the Asian American and Pacific Islander (“AAPI”) and LGBTQI communities.

PURPOSE: To recognize law students in the greater Bay Area who have shown excellence and achievement in law school and have:

• Overcome personal hardships or challenges;

• Shown excellence and achievement in law school;

• Demonstrated leadership potential and a history of involvement with AAPI and LGBTQI student, professional, or civic organizations, such as APABA Silicon Valley and BALIF; and

• Demonstrated service in support of their local AAPI and LGBTQI communities.

AWARD: One (1) joint scholarship of $5,000.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Application for the scholarship includes the following:

• Résumé submission. Please include grade point average if applicable. The applicant’s grade point average and law school enrollment are subject to verification.

• Essay submission (two page maximum). The essay should address how the applicant fulfills the above-mentioned purpose of the scholarship.

• Interview. Scholarship finalists will be interviewed on Sunday, April 26, 2026.

The APABA Silicon Valley Charity & the BALIF Foundation also require that the recipient:

• Attend and volunteer at the APABA Silicon Valley Annual Gala in Fall 2026;

• Attend the BALIF Annual Gala in 2027 (invited, not required to attend);

• Become a Student Member of APABA Silicon Valley (free of charge – sign up here) and BALIF ($10 – sign up here);

• Participate as APABA Silicon Valley’s Student Liaison at their law school by (i) advertising APABA Silicon Valley events and scholarships, and (ii) encouraging fellow law students to attend events and apply for future scholarships;

• Join and actively participate in an APABA Silicon Valley Committee; and

• Become a New Member with APABA Silicon Valley and BALIF upon graduation.

If there are any questions, please feel free to contact us at scholarship@apabasv.com. Please note that applying for this scholarship doesn’t preclude you from applying for the APABA Silicon Valley Achievement Scholarship and other scholarships as well. We encourage you to apply for multiple scholarships if applicable, but separate essay submissions will be required.

Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. PST, Friday, March 27, 2026. Please click here for the flyer. Please email your applications to scholarship@apabasv.com.

2026 APABA Silicon Valley Diversity Bar Study Scholarship – Sponsored by CLA Litigation Section

The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley (“APABA Silicon Valley”) Charity Foundation has partnered with the Litigation Section of the California Lawyers Association (“CLA”) to present a scholarship for law students in their final year of law school who have demonstrated an intent to pursue a career in litigation and have shown commitment to serving the Asian American and Pacific Islander (“AAPI”) community.

PURPOSE: To recognize a law student in their final year of law school who will sit for the California Bar Exam, has shown excellence and achievement in law school, and has:

• Overcome personal hardships or challenges;

• Demonstrated financial need (preference will also be given to students who do not already have bar study expenses covered);

• Demonstrated intent to pursue a career in litigation following graduation;

• Demonstrated leadership potential and a history of involvement with AAPI student, professional, or civic organizations; and

• Demonstrated service in support of their local AAPI communities & commitment to social justice.

AWARD: We will award two (2) $5,000 scholarships.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Application for the scholarship must include the following:

• Résumé. Please include any litigation work experience you have.

• Transcript. Please include a copy of your law school transcript. The applicant’s grade point average and law school enrollment are subject to verification.

• Essay submission (two page maximum). The essay should address how the applicant fulfills the above-mentioned purpose of the scholarship.

• Proof of Financial Need. Include any supporting documentation to verify the applicant’s law school debt and overall student loan debt.

• Proof of Eligibility. Priority will be given to applicants who do not already have bar study expenses covered. Please disclose in your application email if you will already be receiving funds to help cover bar study related expenses (i.e., from employer stipends and/or other bar study scholarships).

• Interview. Scholarship finalists will be interviewed on Sunday, April 26, 2026.

The APABA Silicon Valley Charity & CLA Litigation Section also require that the recipient:

• Attend and volunteer at the APABA Silicon Valley Annual Gala in Fall 2026.

• Become a Student Member of APABA Silicon Valley (free of charge – sign up here).

• Applicant are strongly encouraged to become members of the Litigation Section of CLA after passing the California Bar Exam and securing full-time employment.

• Applicant must be planning to sit for the California Bar, and use the scholarship for bar study/exam expenses within 9 months of award disbursement (anticipated award disbursement: May/June 2026).

• Applicants may only receive one bar study scholarship sponsored by the CLA Litigation Section. If you have already received one from another bar association, you are not eligible to apply.

Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. PST, Friday, March 27, 2026. Please click here for the flyer. Please email your applications to scholarship@apabasv.com. If there are any questions, please feel free to contact us at scholarship@apabasv.com.

Please note that applying for this scholarship doesn’t preclude you from applying for the APABA Silicon Valley Achievement Scholarship or other scholarships. We encourage you to apply for multiple scholarships if applicable, but separate essay submissions will be required if so.

2025 APABA Silicon Valley Pillars of Inclusion Law Firm Award and Corporate Legal Inclusion Award
APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED: 2025 APABA Silicon Valley Pillars of Inclusion Law Firm Award and Corporate Legal Inclusion Award

APABA Silicon Valley is accepting applications for its 2025 Pillars of Inclusion Law Firm Award and Corporate Legal Inclusion Award. Each year APABA Silicon Valley recognizes
applicants that demonstrate exceptional commitment to inclusion in the workplace and in the greater legal community!

The awards will be presented at APABA Silicon Valley’s 40th Annual Gala on Friday, September 26, 2025 at Levi’s Stadium.

Please send completed applications by September 5, 2025 (extended from August 20, 2025) to inclusion.apabasv@gmail.com.

To download the applications, please click the links below:

·2025 Corporate Legal Inclusion Award

·2025 Pillars of Inclusion Law Firm Award

Please feel free to forward this information to other in-house or firm attorneys.
Questions? Email us at: inclusion.apabasv@gmail.com.

APABA Silicon Valley 2024 Diversity Awards
Questions? Email us at: diversity.apabasv@gmail.com.

Law Firm Award Recipients

2024	Finnegan Spencer Fane
2023	Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP
2022	Allen & Overy Covington & Burling LLP
2021	Duane Morris LLP Perkins Coie LLP
2020	Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
2019	WilmerHale LLP
2018	Kobre & Kim LLP Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
2017	LTL Attorneys LLP Littler Mendelson P.C.
2016	White & Case LLP Berliner Cohen LLP
2015	Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP McManis Faulkner
2014	Reed Smith LLP Paragon Legal Group
2013	Seyfarth Shaw LLP Cooley LLP Hanson Bridgett LLP
2012	Keker & Van Nest LLP
2011	Morrison & Foerster LLP
2010	Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.

Corporate Award Recipients

2024	Genentech
2023	Google Mercedes-Benz Research & Development NA
2022	ServiceNow
2020	Applied Materials
2019	Facebook
2018	eBay
2017	Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
2016	Walmart Lyft
2015	VMware
2014	Varian Medical Systems
2013	Gap
2012	Juniper Networks
2011	Netapp
2010	Yahoo!
2009	Nokia
2008	Sun Microsystems
2007	PG&E
2006	Intel

↑ Top