3L Class Gift Program

Areas of Focus

The Class of 2024's Class Gift Committee has chosen the Access2VLS, the Public Interest Stipend Fund, the George Barrett Social Justice Program, and the Harris, Porter & Work Scholarship to spotlight. Descriptions of these funds are detailed below. We would love for you to support one of these funds with your gift, but please know you can always choose to support any fund at the law school: your favorite student organization, the journal for which you work so many hours, a scholarship that has positively influenced your life, or the general Law School Fund. All gifts to the law school will count toward Class Gift totals. 

Access2VLS

This is a groundbreaking new program to meet 100% of a student’s demonstrated need with scholarships—up to the cost of tuition. During the 1L admission process, we consider admitted students for Vanderbilt Law School merit scholarships based on their individual applications relative to other admitted candidates, and in a separate, subsequent process, we allocate Access2VLS grants to those with demonstrated tuition-need defined as tuition costs not covered by the combination of their Vanderbilt Law School merit scholarships, external scholarships, external tuition benefits, and FAFSA-calculated Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Access2VLS grants are provided only during the first-year J.D. admission process, and like Vanderbilt Law School merit scholarships, they are allocated evenly across three academic years (six semesters) of full-time study at Vanderbilt Law School.

Public Interest Stipend Fund 

This fund was established in 2014 to provide public interest fellowship support to Vanderbilt Law Students. Specifically, stipends are available to students participating in summer pro bono fellowship that supports traditionally underserved populations. This is a merit-based award and is to help defray the cost-of-living expenses. 

George Barrett Social Justice Program

The George Barrett Social Justice Program was established at Vanderbilt Law School in 2015 to provide support for students, graduates, faculty, and staff to advance the cause of social justice with an emphasis on the protection of civil liberties and civil rights. The law school will use the fund in a manner that honors and perpetuates the legacy of George Edward Barrett, JD’57, whose career and life were dedicated to the protection and advancement of civil rights and civil liberties.

Harris, Porter & Work Scholarship

This fund was established in FY2021 to provide financial support based on need for deserving students at Vanderbilt Law School who have a demonstrated commitment to civil rights. Preference in awarding the scholarship will be given to students who have historically been underrepresented in the legal profession. The donors make this gift in honor of Janie Greenwood Harris, LLB’64, E. Melvin Porter LLB’59, and Frederick Work, JD’59, the first African-American woman and men to graduate from Vanderbilt Law School.