Juanita Harris Legacy Scholarship

The 2026 Juanita Harris Legacy Scholarship will be awarded to a female law student, that is:  a) from (born and/or raised) in the DFW Metroplex; b) the mother of at least one child;  c) will be in their (2L) year of law school in the Fall of 2026; and d) plans to take the Texas Bar and practice in Texas after completion of law school.  The scholarship will be in the amount of $50,000.00 and will be distributed to the student over a two-year period. The winner will receive $20,000 in their 2L year, another $20,000 in their 3L year, and then a $10,000 stipend to help them while studying for the Texas Bar Exam after graduation from law school. 

The scholarship will be a financial-need based scholarship. Our need-based scholarships focus on financial need and are not primarily academic scholarships. In selecting financial-need scholarship winners, we will consider an applicant's need, disadvantaged circumstances, community involvement, and other factors, in addition to merely academic standing.

About the Juanita Harris Legacy Scholarship

The Juanita Harris Legacy Scholarship is a $50,000 investment in the power, promise, and perseverance of mothers pursuing a legal education. Designed specifically for a rising second-year law student who is also a mother, this scholarship provides critical financial support to help the recipient remain on track to complete law school and successfully prepare for the bar exam—two of the most significant financial and academic hurdles on the path to becoming an attorney.

Inspired by the extraordinary career and lived experience of Juanita Harris, this scholarship reflects a deep and personal commitment to supporting women who are balancing the rigorous demands of legal education while raising the next generation. After becoming a single mother due to the untimely death of her spouse when she was pursuing her own law degree at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Juanita understands firsthand the resilience, sacrifice, and determination required to navigate both roles successfully. Her vision in establishing this scholarship is to ensure that a mother is not forced to choose between their education and their families.

Throughout her distinguished 30+ year legal career—spanning leadership roles at DIRECTV, AT&T, and the U.S. Department of Justice—Juanita has remained deeply committed to mentorship, access, and equity in the legal profession. She has consistently worked to dismantle barriers for underrepresented and first-generation students, particularly through initiatives that expand access to legal education and professional advancement.

The Juanita Harris Legacy Scholarship is more than financial assistance, it is a testament to a belief in the brilliance and potential of mothers in law school. By easing the financial burden of tuition and bar preparation, the scholarship empowers recipients to focus on their studies, graduate with confidence, and enter the legal profession prepared to lead, advocate, and create lasting impact.

At its core, this scholarship honors a simple but powerful truth: when you invest in a mother, you invest in a family, a future, and a legacy.