The 2026 Sandra Cummings Bar Prep Scholarship
Made Possible by Themis Bar Review, JD Advising and Studicata!
Becoming a lawyer shouldn’t be the final barrier to doing the work you’re called to do.
Across the country, there are communities where access to legal representation is limited or nonexistent. At the same time, many law graduates who feel called to serve in those spaces face one last obstacle: the cost of preparing for the bar exam.
The LawyHer Bar Exam Access Initiative exists to close that gap.
This initiative is rooted in something deeply personal. It is named in honor of our founder’s mother, whose strength and belief in her daughter’s future helped shape the path to becoming a lawyer. Just days before bar prep began, she passed away. In the midst of grief, it was the support of family and community that carried our founder through that season and ultimately to the other side of the bar exam.
That experience became a commitment: to ensure that no one navigating this final step has to do it alone.
Through this initiative, selected applicants will receive access to full bar preparation courses and a structured support system designed to help them stay grounded, connected, and supported throughout the study period. This opportunity is for graduates who are intentional about using their legal careers to serve communities with limited access to legal resources—and who are ready to take that next step with the backing of a community behind them.
Who this Initiative is for
This initiative is for graduates who are intentional about practicing in legal deserts or underresourced communities—places where there are few attorneys and limited access to legal services.
This may include:
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Rural communities
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Small towns
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Under-resourced regions within larger states
You do not need to have a job secured, but you should have a clear sense of where you want to build your practice and why.
This opportunity is likely not a fit if you plan to practice primarily in large, saturated legal markets such as (and not limited to) New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, or Los Angeles.
What's Included
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A full bar prep course through one of our partner programs: JD Advising, Themis, or Studicata (more information on the specifics of each course offered is provided within the application)
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Placement in a LawyHer cohort space to stay connected with other recipients
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Virtual working sessions during bar prep
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Periodic check-ins from LawyHer Mentors and additional programming throughout the study period
Bar prep courses are awarded based on availability and applicant preference. Applicants will not be assigned a provider they did not select. Note: At this time, we only have 8 scholarships we are able to provide.
Other Eligibility Considerations
We prioritize applicants who:
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Are first-generation college graduates and/or law students
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Come from low-income backgrounds
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Do not currently have full access to bar preparation resources
Applicants with fully funded bar preparation will not be considered.
