Scholarships & Awards

An entrance award created by the Belzberg and Soliman families in 2024 to provide financial support for incoming Lincoln Alexander School of Law students who have demonstrated bridge building in the community and also demonstrate financial need.

Building bridges is a critical skill in the legal world today. A legal education in a diverse community – with colleagues from disparate and unique backgrounds – gives students the opportunity to be intentional about learning from those differences. Here, students can seek out opportunities to connect with people whose life experiences differ from their own, and to actively listen to their stories and perspectives.In this way, they create new opportunities for collaboration and partnership – key elements of the practice of law.

An entrance scholarship awarded to students entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who demonstrate an aptitude for business or entrepreneurship. Additional election criteria may include membership in a historically disadvantaged group as outlined in the Ontario Human Rights Code. Applicants must have high academic standing, demonstrate financial need and submit a 500-word statement detailing their business or entrepreneurial activities both inside and outside of their academic studies.

A renewable scholarship awarded to 2L students in the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who self-identify as Indigenous and demonstrate financial need.

A renewable entrance scholarship awarded to students entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who self-identify as female and have a business focus. Applicants must have high academic standing and demonstrate financial need.

A renewable entrance scholarship established in 2024, through the generosity of the Griffin family, for students entering their first year at Lincoln Alexander Law who demonstrate financial need and who self-identify as members of historically disadvantaged groups according to the Ontario Human Rights Code (including people from racialized groups, 2SLGBTQIA+, women, and people with disabilities).

A renewable entrance scholarship awarded to students entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who are members of a historically disadvantaged group as outlined in the Ontario Human Rights Code. Applicants must have high academic standing and demonstrate financial need.

A renewable entrance scholarship awarded to students entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who have a high academic standing and demonstrate financial need.

A renewable entrance scholarship given to students entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who have a high academic standing, demonstrate financial need and who have a demonstrated interest in environmental law.

A renewable entrance scholarship awarded to students entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law’s JD program who are the first generation in their family to attend postsecondary education. Priority will be given to those who also identify as a “newcomer.” Applicants must have a high academic standing and demonstrate financial need. This generous gift from McCarthy Tétrault LLP has been matched by Toronto Metropolitan University's President's Awards to Champion Excellence (PACE) program.

A renewable entrance scholarship awarded to students entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who self-identify as female and are from historically disadvantaged groups as outlined by the Ontario Human Rights Code. Applicants must have a high academic standing and demonstrate financial need.

A renewable entrance scholarship was established through a generous donation from Toronto Metropolitan University Board Chair Tony Staffieri and his family. The Staffieri Family Scholarships in Law are awarded to students entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who demonstrate financial need, and self-identify as belonging to one of the following equity-deserving groups:

• Women with STEM undergraduate or graduate degrees;
• Students with disabilities;
• First generation students; and
• 2SLGBTQIA++ students

A renewable entrance scholarship awarded to Indigenous students entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law’s JD Program. Applicants must have high academic standing and demonstrate financial need. This generous gift from Torys LLP has been matched by Toronto Metropolitan University's President's Awards to Champion Excellence (PACE) program, and is in partnership with Indspire.

Awarded to the student who achieves the highest cumulative grade point average in the first year of the Juris Doctor program. Enrolment in the first and second years of the JD program and clear academic standing are required.

Established by the inaugural members of the APLSA, Class of 2023, the APLSA Leadership Award is an entrance award given to a student entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program. The Award will go to an incoming student who self-identifies as Asian and demonstrates leadership, a commitment to their community, and financial need.

An entrance award given to a student entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who identifies as a member of a historically disadvantaged group as defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code, and demonstrates financial need and high academics.

Babin Bessner Spry LLP is a boutique litigation law firm, founded in 2009, and located in downtown Toronto close to the University and the Lincoln Alexander School of Law. The firm is committed to fostering and maintaining an inclusive work environment and has been recognized as one of Canada’s leading litigation law firms. Babin Bessner Spry is active in a wide range of practice areas, including securities regulation and litigation, competition and anti-trust litigation, corporate governance matters, conspiracy and fraud litigation, and class actions. The firm’s lawyers are also deeply involved in the community and have worked on numerous pro bono and public interest matters over the years.

Established by the inaugural members of the BLSA, Class of 2023, the BLSA Black Excellence Award is an entrance award given to a student entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program. The Award will go to an incoming student who self-identifies as Black and demonstrates a commitment to their community, high academic standing and financial need.

An entrance award established in memory of The Honourable Marion Boyd, Ontario's first woman attorney general. Given to a first-year student who demonstrates financial need, and self-identifies as belonging to one or more of the following equity-deserving groups: Women; Indigenous; 2SLGBTQIA++.

The Honourable Marion Boyd (1946-2022)

Throughout her career, Marion Boyd worked with various organizations including the London Battered Women’s Advocacy Clinic, the London Coordinating Committee to End Woman Abuse, and the London Cross-Cultural Learner Centre. Elected as an NDP member of the legislative assembly at Queen’s Park, she was appointed to Cabinet as Minister of Education, then Minister of Community and Social Services. Concurrently, she was also the Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues. She was then appointed Attorney General, the first woman to hold that position in Ontario.

An entrance award given to a student entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who has demonstrated resilience and an ability to overcome challenges. Applicants must self-identify as a racialized person, have high academic standing and demonstrate financial need.

Established by Karl, Stephanie and Jonathan Brown, in memory of their mother, Brenna Brown, this entrance award is given to a racialized student who has overcome challenges and who demonstrates resilience. Brenna Brown was a force who refused to let early setbacks define her, and believed that every person deserved respect. Born to immigrants during the Great Depression, she spent time in foster care and was forced to drop out of high school to support her family. She built the family she never had and was a lifelong learner: she enjoyed music, sports and gardening, wrote books, and formed an environmental group. She became a Justice of the Peace in her 50s, a job she fought to retain until age 75, when she went on to teach a law course at Durham College.

An entrance award given to a student entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who self-identifies as Black, has high academic standing, financial need, and demonstrates a commitment to their community.

The Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL) is a national network of law professionals and individuals committed to reinvesting in the community. Promoting Black Legal Excellence, CABL’s continuing goal is to bring together law professionals and other interested members of the community from across Canada to cultivate and maintain The Association of Black professionals in Canada.

An entrance award given to a student entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who has demonstrated resilience and an ability to overcome challenges. Applicants must demonstrate financial need.

Donette Chin-Loy Chang is a prolific philanthropist. Together with her late husband, G. Raymond Chang, OJ, OC, chancellor emeritus, Toronto Metropolitan University, she has made transformational investments in the areas of education, health, social justice, and the environment.

Committed to supporting inclusion, Chin-Loy Chang is a board member of the BlackNorth Initiative and an advisory board member of the Onyx Initiative. She also serves on the National Coalition of Canadians Against Asian Racism Committee. The Chancellor Emeritus G. Raymond Chang Law Award was created by Donette Chin-Loy Chang in honour and memory of G. Raymond Chang, the late chancellor emeritus of Toronto Metropolitan University, and Officer of the Order of Canada.

An entrance award given to a student entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who demonstrates a commitment to fighting for historically disadvantaged groups, and demonstrates financial need and high academics.

An entrance award given to a student entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD program. Applicants must self-identify as a racialized person, have high academic standing and demonstrate financial need. Preference will be given to students who are members of the historically most disadvantaged groups in law schools and the legal profession, as determined by the selection committee.

Established by Paul and Melita De Francesca in 2023, the De Francesca Property Law Award is awarded to a student who demonstrates financial need and exceptional promise in the first-year Property Law course (JUR 103).

Established by Paul and Melita De Francesca, the De Francesca Real Estate Law Award is awarded to a student who demonstrates financial need and excels in the third-year Real Estate Law course (JUR302).

An entrance award given to a student entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who self-identifies as Black or Indigenous and who has demonstrated a commitment to their respective Black and Indigenous communities. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and high academic standing. Santan and Omega De Mello are firm believers in the transformative power of education. They hope this award can increase access for Black and Indigenous students that have demonstrated a commitment to building and improving their communities and are pursuing law school. Their daughter, Tanya De Mello, created this award in their name to honour their commitment to community, to increasing access to justice and also, to honour all those who donated funding to support her educational and co-curricular pursuits.

An award created by Dentons in 2024 to provide financial support for an incoming first-year (1L) student with demonstrated financial need in the Lincoln Alexander School of Law at TMU.

An entrance award given to a student entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD program who demonstrates entrepreneurial work experience, high academics and financial need. For additional information, please visit the Donich Law website (external link, opens in new window) .

An entrance award given to a student entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD program who self-identifies as racialized and who has demonstrated a commitment to young people in marginalized communities and/or an interest in social justice and human rights law. Preference will be given to students who have experience mentoring or tutoring young people in their communities, or experience working on issues related to anti-gun violence efforts. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and high academic standing.

Adan Dubet was a young Black Muslim student at Toronto Metropolitan University's Ted Rogers School of Business who aspired to attend law school at Toronto Metropolitan University, and who worked to help racialized young people who were less fortunate than he was. He was an advocate for social justice and mentored youth in Toronto. This award was established by his family in his memory and to remind every Black youth to dream big and for each one to teach one.

An award given to an upper-year student (2L or 3L) in the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who self-identifies as Black. Applicants must demonstrate financial need.

An award given to an upper-year student (2L or 3L) in the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who self-identifies as Indigenous. Applicants must demonstrate financial need.

An entrance award given to a student entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD program who demonstrates a commitment to Social Justice in their application. Applicants must demonstrate financial need.

An entrance award given to a student entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD program who has demonstrated a commitment to anti-racism, and demonstrates financial need. Inspired by his mother Miss lna, who was a respected Justice of the Peace and family court judge in Jamaica, B. Denham Jolly is driven to partner with the Lincoln Alexander School of Law to build equity and opportunity, and champion students who will go on in their own law careers to strengthen access to justice.

An entrance award given to a student entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD program to encourage diversity and the attainment of equity in legal education and practice. Applicants must self-identify as a member of a historically disadvantaged group as outlined in the Ontario Human Rights Code, have high academic standing and demonstrate financial need. Due consideration will be given to devotion and commitment to community service.

Established by the inaugural members of the Lincoln Alexander Law Revue, the Lincoln Alexander Law Revue Award for Creativity is given to a student in their second or third year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who demonstrates financial need and has made a creative contribution to the law school. The Lincoln Alexander Law Revue is an annual variety show featuring music and sketch comedy written and performed by students with cameo appearances from the staff and faculty.

Awarded to a student enrolled in the 3rd year of the JD program, with financial need and clear academic standing, who demonstrated exceptional promise and aptitude in JUR 200, the Business of Lawyering.

An award given to an upper-year student (2L or 3L) at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law who is a first-generation law student with financial need, and who demonstrates an aptitude for business or entrepreneurship.

This award was established in 2023 by the Canadian Italian Business Professional Association (CIBPA) to honour the legacy of Italian-Canadian businessman, Sergio Marchionne. Mr. Marchionne began his distinguished career as a tax professional at Deloitte LLP then going on to progressively senior positions at several industrial companies prior to taking the reins at Chrysler / Fiat, one of the largest manufacturing companies in the world.

An entrance award given to a student entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who identifies as a member of a historically disadvantaged group as defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code, and demonstrates financial need and high academics.

An award created by Rogers and the Canadian General Counsel Awards (CGCA) in honour of Marisa Wyse, Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer and Corporate Secretary at Rogers, who received the 2023 Canadian General Counsel of the Year award. This award provides financial support for upper-year law students (2L or 3L) at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law who self-identify as members of historically disadvantaged groups, demonstrate an interest in pursuing an in-house/general counsel career path, and have financial need.

Established by Rosen & Associates in 2023, the Rosen & Associates Tax Law Award at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law is awarded to a student who demonstrates financial need and exceptional promise in Tax Law and Practice (JUR 310).

In 2023, Rubin Thomlinson LLP established this award in celebration of its 20th anniversary. This award provides financial support for upper-year law students (2L or 3L) at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, who demonstrate interest in workplace human rights issues and have financial need.

An entrance award given to a student entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law’s JD program who are the first generation in their family to attend postsecondary education, and who has exemplified in practice a commitment to anti-discrimination prior to apply to the Lincoln Alexander School of Law. Applicants must have a high academic standing and demonstrate financial need. Preference will be given to Indigenous students.

Awarded to the student who attained the highest GPA in the Advanced Corporate/Commercial Law course (JUR 304). Enrolment in the third year of the JD program and clear academic standing are required. This award was created by Toronto Metropolitan University's Office of the General Counsel and Board Secretariat and renamed in honour of Justice Julia Shin Doi upon her appointment as a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in Toronto in 2023.

Established by the Cannonbury Foundation, the Spring Forward Awards will be given annually to 10 students in their final year (3L) of Lincoln Alexander Law’s JD program. The awards recognize graduating students who demonstrate financial need and who have demonstrated their grit, perseverance and growth over the course of their degree in one or more of the following areas: Community Engagement and Leadership, Access to Justice, Academics, Technology and the Law, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and Wellness.

Awarded to the student who achieves the highest grade in the second-year Wills and Estates Course (JUR 206). This prize has been established by The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Canada. STEP Canada is the leading national organization for trust and estate professionals advising families across generations.

An award given to upper class students (2L or 3L) who have contributed to the health, wellness, and sense of belonging to the Lincoln Alexander Law community. Applicants must also demonstrate financial need and high academic standing. This award was established by Shawn Richard and members of equity-deserving members of the legal community to recognize the Hon. George R. Strathy, for his distinguished career, and his commitment to increasing diversity in the legal profession and the judiciary, modernizing the courts, and to de-stigmatize mental illness.

The term venceremos in Spanish and Portuguese means “we (collectively) will overcome”. It is a tribute to the barriers and underrepresentation that the Latinx community has and will continue to overcome within the legal field.

The Venceremos Award was created by Canadian Hispanic Bar Association, Lincoln Alexander Chapter (formerly known as LALSA) inaugural Executive Team to be awarded to a first-year law student at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law who self-identifies as Latinx. This award will be given to a law student who has demonstrated leadership within the community, academics, and/or extracurriculars and who demonstrates financial need.

Note: This award is open to anyone who identifies as Latinx.

Awarded to the student who achieves the highest grade in the second year Business Law and Practice course (JUR 201). Enrolment in the third year of the JD program and clear academic standing are required.

This prize has been established by the law firm of Wildeboer Dellelce LLP, one of Canada’s premier corporate, securities and business transactions law firms. Wildeboer Dellelce gratefully acknowledges the Lincoln Alexander Business Law Society (LABLS) and its founders for their entrepreneurial spirit and support in establishing this prize and promoting its existence to students at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law.

Established by Peter Wilson and Janet Vickers Wilson in memory of Kathleen Wilson, this entrance award is given to an Indigenous student with high academic standing entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program. Although poverty prevented Kathleen Wilson from obtaining a university education, she inspired in her children a love of learning and ambition to obtain a higher education. She also taught her children to regard and treat all people decently and equally, no matter their circumstances or who they are. Applicants must be enrolled and demonstrate financial need.

An entrance award given to a student entering their first year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law's JD Program who is a first generation law student, with a preference for a recent immigrant or refugee. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and high academic standing. Established in honour of Lilethe and Robert Young by their children, Patty, Robert, Donna and Gord Young, on the occasion of their 61st wedding anniversary.