If you’re considering becoming a paralegal or other legal support professional, you probably know that the Nebraska Labor Department predicted a job growth increase of over 17% in the area of legal support professionals. Also, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics, students of legal support studies living in Nebraska have a high chance of job placement and earning an average salary of over $48,000 a year which is quite good considering that the average cost of living is below that of most surrounding urban communities. With this kind of projection, it’s an encouraging and solid career choice. While it’s true that post-graduation opportunities are promising, the stress of getting the education paid for is another concern; however, there are many scholarships to apply for that will help relieve some of the financial burdens while you study. For example, Lincoln Legal Professionals Association which was established in 1988, in Lincoln, Nebraska, as a bi-level association in complement with the Nebraska Legal Professionals Association. It has asserted a mission of cultivating good fellowship among professionals practicing law or those with an aim to do so by sharing information peer to peer and promoting a high standard of ethics and extreme professionalism. The Association provides seminars and continuing education at quarterly meetings as well as outside opportunities to its membership. In alignment with the Association’s mission of fellowship and continued professionalism the organization established a scholarship fund for Nebraska high school students interested in pursuing an education and career in the field of legal support. The scholarship amount has ranged between $500 – $1,000 since it’s dependent upon fund raising.
Nebraska students interested in applying for the scholarship should have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and intend on enrolling in an institution of higher education for the purpose of studying legal support. Applicants should submit the completed Lincoln Legal Professionals Association Scholarship form linked below. Along with the application, students should send the most up to date official transcript, a detailed resume of academic history, work experiences, school and community activities. Also, students should create a compelling one-page personal statement essay explaining why he or she is interested in specializing in the area of legal support. Please note, essays will be judged on grammar, punctuation and spelling. Since there is only one official winner there is a lot of competition for the scholarship so be sure to prepare all of your material in advance and have a parent, teach or counselor go over the application package with the provided checklist to avoid unnecessary elimination of candidacy due to incomplete submissions. A copy of an acceptance letter to the intended school of attendance is expected as part of the application package and disbursement of funds is dependent upon proof of enrollment. Application packages should be mailed to the Association. The scholarship deadline is March 15, 2017. You can find more information online.