Have you ever wanted to be a lawyer? Do you spend your time watching Ally McBeal, Law and Order, The West Wing, and even went so far as to see Legally Blonde? Is it your dream to defend the innocent? To give justice to the oppressed? If so, then you should definitely pursue a career in law.

It is disheartening to see students who have the potential and capabilities to reach their dreams suddenly settle for so much less just because they could not get into college. There are those who choose to work instead of study because of pressing financial needs. College is very expensive, and cannot be afforded by just about anyone.

Fortunately, there are now scholarships offered by schools and other organizations that aim to help those who are financially-challenged. Your dream of becoming a lawyer should not have to take a backseat to anything else just because of lack of money. Listed below are some of the scholarships offered to those who are pursuing or will pursue a degree in law.

The NAPABA Law Foundation Scholarships

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Law Foundation is a non-profit organization that awards scholarships every autumn to law students who show commitment to serving or contributing to the Asian Pacific community as future leaders. These scholarships are: The Anheuser-Busch NAPABA Law Foundation Presidential Scholarships, NAPABA Law Foundation Scholarships, and the Lim, Ruger, and Kim Scholarship. For those who have incurred student loans while studying law, NAPABA also offers the Diane Yu Loan Repayment Assistance Program to help those law graduates working for Asian Pacific American legal service organizations to repay a part of their debts. For information about the eligibility requirements, visit http://www.napaba.org/napaba/showpage.asp?code=scholarships.

Drake University Scholarships

Drake University offers a lot of scholarships, such as merit-based scholarships, merit and need-based scholarships, returning student merit scholarships, combined merit and need scholarships, and summer public interest fellowships.

Merit-based scholarships are the Dwight D. Opperman Scholarship, Leland Stanford Forrest Scholarship, Edward and Cora Hayes Scholarship, and AMTA Mock Trial and ACMA Moot Court Scholarship. These scholarships are awarded based on LSAT score, academic achievement, and application file.

The merit and need-based scholarships are: The Opportunity Scholarships, Charles "Buck" and Dora Taylor Endowed Law Scholarships, Donald C. and Doris K. Byers Scholarships, and Public Service Scholarships. These scholarships are awarded based on academic performance, financial need, and LSAT score.

The Returning Student Merit Scholarships are awarded to returning and entering students. Financial need is disregarded in the selection of awardees. The scholarships are the following: Lex and Scott Hawkins Endowed Scholarship, Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives-Electric Cooperative Pioneer Trust Fund Scholarship, James P. Irish Scholarship, Edward H. Jones Scholarship, Legal Research Service Scholarship, James L. Perkins Scholarship, Phi Alpha Delta Scholarship, and Gene D. Reifsnider Scholarship.

The Combined Merit and Need Scholarships are given based on a student's academic achievements and need for financial assistance. FAFSA is also required. The scholarships under this type are as follows: William Stone Ayres Scholarship, Beverly Estate Scholarship, George and Mary Brammer Scholarship, Gregory Brunk Scholarship, Raymond DiPaglia Endowment Scholarship, Grace O. Doane Scholarship, Joseph M. Dorgan Scholarship, Robert E. Early Memorial Scholarship, Herman E. Elgar Memorial Scholarship, Annamae Heaps Law Scholarship, John M. Helmick Law Scholarship, Forest A. King Scholarship, Martin Luther King Law Scholarship, Verne Lawyer Scholarship, League of Attorneys' Wives Scholarship, Frederick D. Lewis Jr. Scholarship, Gordon and Delores Madson Scholarship, Jake S. More Scholarship, Jerome S. Petz, S.J. Scholarship, Janet Reynoldson Memorial Scholarship, Isador M. Robinson Endowment Scholarship, Walter and Rita Selvy Scholarship, Haemer Wheatcraft Scholarship, and the Zarley, McKee, Thomte, Voorhees, Sease Law Scholarship. For further information, check out http://www.law.drake.edu/admissions/default.aspx?pageID=scholarships.

The University of California, Berkley Scholarships

A wide variety of scholarships are offered by the University of California to law students. Some of the scholarships are: the Alia Herrera Memorial ATLA Auxiliary Scholarship, ATLA Feesfiled Law Student Scholarship, Federal Circuit Bar Association Scholarship, Finlandia Foundation Trust Scholarship, Foundation of the State Bar of California Law School Scholarships for Public Interest, Harry A. Blackmun Scholarship, Harvey Fellows Program, and the Humane Studies Fellowship among others. More information can be found at http://www.law.berkeley.edu/students/financial_aid/scholarships/miscella....

With these scholarships, there would be no reason for you anymore to give up your dream of becoming a lawyer. Lots of other opportunities await you once you enter law school, so step out there and pursue your law career.