New Allard Law awards and scholarships to support IBPOC students

As outlined in the Allard School of Law Strategic Plan, we’re committed to continuing to build a vibrant law school community that celebrates and supports diversity, equity and inclusiveness. Part of working towards this important goal means ensuring that individuals from groups that have been historically, persistently or systemically excluded from higher education are able to overcome the financial barriers to attending law school.

Over the past three years, 15 new awards have been created to support students who identify as Indigenous, Black or as a person of colour (IBPOC). Read on to learn more about each of these new awards, as well as other funding opportunities available to new and continuing Allard Law students.

New awards

The Afreen Ahmed Memorial Award in Law provides awards totaling $2,000 for second- or third-year JD students who are from communities that have been historically, persistently and systemically marginalized. Financial need may be considered. This award is made available annually through a gift in memory of Afreen Ahmed (1959-2019) from her daughter.

The Alexander Won Cumyow and Gordon Won Cumyow Memorial Award in Law provides awards totalling $2,000 for domestic JD students of Chinese heritage who are in need of financial assistance to complete their education, made available annually by Pamela Won Cumyow Smith and Brian Smith in honour of Alexander Won Cumyow and Gordon Won Cumyow.

The Catherine Chow Award in Law for IBPOC Students provides two awards of $1,500 each year to second- and third-year JD students who identify as Indigenous, Black or a person of colour and demonstrate financial need. This award has been made available annually through a gift from Catherine Chow (LLM 2007) to recognize and uplift those who endure racism as IPBOC law students. Current JD students who self-identify as Indigenous, Black or as a person of colour are invited to apply for this award in the spring.

The Diane Nhan Award in Law for IBPOC Students provides awards totalling $2,300 each year to second- or third-year domestic J.D. students who are Indigenous or who identify as Black or as a Person of Colour. These awards have been made available through a gift from Diane Nhan (B.A., J.D. 2011). Preference will be given to students who have demonstrated an interest in arts or the performing arts. 

The Edwards, Kenny & Bray Award in Law for IBPOC Students provides awards totaling $2,000 for First Nations, Inuit, or Métis students of Canada, and/or domestic students who identify as Black or a Person of Colour enrolled in first-year of the JD program. This award is made available annually through a gift from Edwards, Kenny & Bray LLP.

The Entrance Award in Law for Indigenous Students provides awards of $15,000 each for three First Nations, Inuit or Métis students of Canada entering the JD program who demonstrate financial need and have a history of community service or volunteerism. Preference will be given to students who have demonstrated an interest in criminal law and this award may be included as part of an admissions offer. This award was first announced in May 2022 and made available annually through gifts from Matthew Nathanson (LLB 1997), Irwin Nathanson, QC and Joanie McEwen (LLB 1975).

The Kevin B. Westell Award in Law for IBPOC Students provides $2,000 to outstanding domestic JD students who identify as Indigenous, Black or as a person of colour. Preference will be given to students who have excelled in criminal justice. This award was made possible thanks to a gift from Kevin B. Westell (BA, LLB). Current JD students who self-identify as Indigenous, Black or as a person of colour are invited to apply for this award in the spring.

The Kim-Bautista Award in Law provides awards totalling $1,750 that have been made available through an endowment established by Nicco Bautista (B.A. 2010, M.A. 2013, J.D. 2013) and Maria Kim-Bautista (B.A. 2010, J.D. 2013) for students in the J.D. program who are the first in their family to attend law school or have overcome barriers in order to attend UBC. Recipients will have demonstrated academic excellence and/or community service. Preference will be given to students of East and/or Southeast Asian heritage. Nicco Bautista and Maria Kim-Bautista immigrated to Vancouver as children, were both the first in their families to attend law school, and are now lawyers practicing in Vancouver. Nicco and Maria were actively involved in student leadership and community service during their time at UBC. They established this award to support law students with similar backgrounds to their own. 

The Leonard Marchand Sr. Entrance Award in Law for Indigenous Students provides awards totaling $2,000 for First Nations, Inuit, or Métis students of Canada entering the JD program, who demonstrate community involvement. This award is made available annually through a gift from Peter Henein (BA, LLB) and Sue Henein, in honour of Leonard Marchand Sr. (1933-2016).

The McMillan LLP Award in Law for Indigenous Students provides awards totalling $5,000 annually, through a gift from McMillan LLP for First Nations, Inuit, or Métis students of Canada in second- or third-year of the JD program. 

The Peter A. Allard School of Law Entrance Award for Black Students, first announced in February 2022, will provide an award in the value of first-year tuition to one Black law student each year for the next three years. Financial need may be considered. This award is supported by an anonymous donor. 

The Peter A. Allard School of Law Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award will provide awards to incoming JD law students who are from communities that have been historically, persistently and systemically marginalized. Launched in February 2022, this award is supported by alumni, donors and friends of the law school, who have made $2,050 available for students. We hope to see the available funding grow as donations continue to be accepted.

The St. Pierre, Romilly, Nathanson Entrance Award in Law for Black Students was announced in June 2021. This entrance award provides $15,000 for three domestic students entering the JD program who identify as Black, demonstrate financial need, and have a history of community service or volunteerism. Preference is given to students who have demonstrated an interest in criminal law. This award, funded by David St. Pierre, Selwyn Romilly (BA 1963, LLB 1966), Matthew Nathanson (LLB 1997) and two anonymous donors, may be included as part of an admissions offer.

The Steven Ngo Award in Law provides a $2,000 award annually, through a gift from Steven Ngo (B.Sc. 2008, J.D. 2014), to an outstanding first-year J.D. students of East and/or Southeast Asian heritage. Preference will be given to students who have demonstrated involvement and/or leadership in the Asian community. 

The Song Family Award in Law provides awards totalling $3,500, through an endowment established by Daniel J. Song, KC, (B.A. 2003, J.D. 2006) in honour of his parents, Kwan Heon Song and Soon Hee Song, along with funds from the University of British Columbia, for domestic second- or third-year J.D. students of East and/or South-East Asian heritage who have demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to advocacy and social justice. Preference will be given to students who are of Korean heritage and/or have demonstrated barriers to accessing a legal education. 

Other Funding Opportunities

Entrance awards and scholarships + funding for ongoing students: In addition to these new awards, numerous other awards and scholarships are available to students who choose to study at Allard Law, including the Dean’s JD Entrance Scholarships, valued at $24,000. Students who are granted an entrance awards will typically be informed of their award as part of an admissions offer. View the full list of entrance awards.

JD students who are currently studying at Allard Law are also eligible for a wide variety of awards for continuing students. In total, over 150 awards and scholarships are available to incoming and current Allard Law students.

Bursaries: Each year we award over $1,000,000 dollars in bursaries to our students. Bursary funding is allocated primarily on the basis of financial need, with the goal of ensuring that the Peter. A. Allard School of Law remains accessible, regardless of financial circumstances. Learn more about our bursary program.

Learn more 

If you have questions about scholarships, awards and bursaries, our Enrolment Services team is available to assist you with any financial-related questions and can be reached at es.lawsupport@ubc.ca.

This article was originally posted updated in September 2021 and updated on May 20, 2022, February 2, 2023 and June 6, 2024.