Scholarships for Incoming Students

Fellowships are awarded to incoming students who have demonstrated excellence prior to law school through academics, leadership, professionalism, and service. Fellows receive full-tuition scholarship support, alumni mentors, and leadership, networking, and service opportunities throughout law school.

Each year, Detroit Mercy Law awards the Intellectual Property (IP) Law Fellowship to a highly-qualified incoming student with a STEM background and interest in pursuing IP law. IP Law fellows receive mentorship from IP attorneys and support finding career placement for IP law.

Learn more about Intellectual Property (IP) Law at Detroit Mercy Law.

Meet the IP Law Fellows.

Each year, Detroit Mercy Law awards the Transnational Law Fellowship to a highly-qualified incoming US citizen in the Dual JD Program.

Meet the Transnational Law Fellows.

Admitted students are automatically considered for Fellowships. The Scholarship Committee selects students for fellowship consideration based on their application.  Selected students are invited to interview for the Fellows Award.  

Dean's Scholarships are awarded to incoming students in recognition of their academic accomplishments and potential for success at Detroit Mercy Law.  Amounts vary and are commensurate with qualifications and competitiveness of the applicant pool.

Admitted students are automatically considered for Dean’s Scholarships. The Scholarship Committee selects students based on their application. 

Spirit Awards recognize incoming students for their potential as future members of the Detroit Mercy Law community who will embrace our mission of educating the complete lawyer.

Admitted students are automatically considered for Spirit Awards. The Scholarship Committee selects students for Spirit Award consideration based on their application.  Selected students are invited to interview for the award.

Admitted students invited to interview for this award may schedule their interview here.

All Spirit Interviews are via Zoom.  You will meet with 1-2 members of the Detroit Mercy Law community, which may include administrators, faculty, alumni, and current students.  We hope to learn more about how you see yourself becoming involved in our community and how your goals align with our mission.

The Henry H. Tarrant Award for Black Student Excellence is named in honor of the first known black graduate of Detroit Mercy Law.  Henry H. Tarrant graduated in 1922.

The award, established in partnership with Detroit Mercy Law’s Black Law Students Association (BLSA), recognizes incoming black law students for their achievements prior to law school and for their potential as future leaders, influencers, and activists, who will advance justice, equality, civil rights, and service.

Students selected for the award will receive up to a $5,000 yearly tuition scholarship for three years.  Recipients also receive an alumnus mentor and eligibility to apply for financial support to attend a law-related conference in an upper-level year.

Applicants interested in being considered for the Tarrant Award should submit a brief statement (no more than one page per scholarship in length) about their interest in the award and their qualifications for the award with their application as an addendum.

Interview information coming soon.  Questions should be directed to lawadmissions@udmercy.edu.

View current recipients of the Henry H. Tarrant Award for Black Student Excellence here.

The Philip J. McElroy Scholarship is awarded to an incoming law student in honor of the late distinguished graduate’s lifelong commitment to education.  Mr. McElroy received four degrees from University of Detroit Mercy, including his law degree in 1932.  His commitment to education for himself and others was long and steadfast: he was a tutor while in college; he taught Physics at University of Detroit High School for sixteen years, and he trained new associates in his law firm.

Students selected for the award will receive up to a $15,000 yearly tuition scholarship for three years.

A recipient must be an incoming full or part-time student enrolled at Detroit Mercy Law.  A recipient must also be a graduate of an Archdiocese of Detroit High School; a graduate of University of Detroit Mercy; or a child of a graduate of an Archdiocese of Detroit high school or University of Detroit Mercy.

Applicants interested in being considered for the McElroy Award should submit a brief statement (no more than one page per scholarship in length) about their interest in the award and their qualifications for the award with their application as an addendum.

View current recipients of the Philip J. McElroy Scholarship here.

The Stewart & Lysaght Scholars Award, named in honor of the co-founders of the Dual JD Program—Professor George Stewart of University of Windsor Faculty of Law and Professor Leon Lysaght of University of Detroit Mercy School of Law—financially supports exceptional Dual JD students each year.

Students in the Dual JD Program join a community committed to transnational law, social justice, access, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Both Detroit Mercy Law and Windsor Law are committed to enhancing the diversity of the legal profession and advancing justice on both sides of the US-Canada border and throughout the world. In furtherance of the law schools’ joint commitment to these areas, recipients selected for the incoming class of 2023 will include exceptional students who identify as Black or Indigenous who have strong interests in transnational law and social justice and aspire to pursue transnational social justice careers following graduation.

Students selected for this award will receive a $10,000 USD scholarship applied to their Detroit Mercy Law tuition and a $10,000 CDN scholarship applied to their Windsor Law tuition for the standard three-year duration of the Program.

Admitted students are invited to interview for the Stewart & Lysaght Award based on their application.

Students selected to interview for this award must be available to interview March 2023. You will meet with 3-4 members of the Dual JD community, which may include administrators, faculty, alumni, and current students. We hope to learn more about your interest in transnational law, commitment to social justice, and goals to pursue a transnational social justice career following graduation.

Questions should be directed to Stephanie Winbigler, Director of Admissions for the Dual JD Program at winbigsn@udmercy.edu or 313-596-9841.

Students are encouraged to apply for external scholarships throughout their law school experience. Additional information on external scholarships is available here.

Detroit Mercy Law recognizes students who demonstrate academic excellence at the end of their first year with scholarships.  In addition, many student leaders receive scholarship in their upper-level years.  Students are also encouraged to apply for Detroit Mercy Law Named & Endowed Scholarships in their upper-level years.

Detroit Mercy Law participates in veterans tuition benefit programs, including the Yellow Ribbon Program.  For an eligibility determination, contact the US Department of Veteran Affairs at www.va.gov or 1-800-827-1000.