Edson and Margaret Larson Foundation North Dakota Summer Rural Justice Scholarship

Launched in summer 2015, these scholarships are intended to help students offset summer expenses while working in a summer law-related position with a law firm, state's attorney office, or indigent defense office in any North Dakota community other than Grand Forks, Fargo/West Fargo, Bismarck/Mandan, or Minot. 

In 2020, this scholarship was extended to include qualifying geographic rural judicial clerkships due to the limited funding through the rural justice judicial clerkship fund and the large number of students and judges willing to participate. It is expected that students will live in and experience life in the rural community where they are placed. Made possible by the generous support of the Edson and Margaret Larson Foundation, this program has proved successful in introducing law students to the variety of opportunities in rural communities early in their law school education. 

Selection Process

The selection process happens in May and is coordinated through the externship program.  The selected students receive their scholarship when the Law School receives confirmation that the position has started. All funding runs through the Office of Financial Aid. 

• All confirmed students in qualified placements at the time of selection will be considered for funding regardless of grade point average and class rank.
• Students committed to working full-time (350-400 hours) during the summer will be given priority consideration for available funding.
•  As part of the requirement to receive funding, students must agree to certify their post-summer experience hours, submit a post-experience essay, and give permission for the University to publicly release their name and placement information.     

Past Awards