Strategies for Local Laws Scholarship

The communities that raise us leave their fingerprints on our long-term goals. The Law Offices of James A. Welcome believe that we have a responsibility to give back to those communities as we grow. That’s why the law firm is proud to debut its Strategies for Local Laws Scholarship.

This scholarship promises $2,500 to a student who can frankly discuss how changes to local legislation may improve their communities. The Law Offices of James A. Welcome invites undergraduate and graduate students from all areas of study to submit a 1,000-word essay going into detail about:

  • The problems in-need communities face
  • How local legislation affects those communities
  • What changes might better impact communities
  • How students and professionals can promote change

Students have until October 15, 2025, to complete their essays and submit them for the scholarship selection committee’s consideration. Our personal injury lawyers in Waterbury look forward to supporting a student who is ready to give back to the community that raised them.

Who Is Eligible? 

The Law Offices of James A. Welcome invites students who meet the following criteria to submit their essays and applications for consideration:

  • Applicants must be enrolled in or accepted at an accredited United States college, university, or graduate school
  • Applicants must agree to the scholarship’s terms and conditions
  • Applicants must complete all essential application materials, including an essay, and submit those materials before the scholarship deadline passes

That said, the Law Offices of James A. Welcome encourages undergraduate and graduate students pursuing all types of degrees to apply for the Strategies for Local Laws Scholarship. Students do not have to commit to a certain field of study or academic institution to qualify for this scholarship.

How Do I Apply?

Students interested in applying for the Strategies for Local Laws Scholarship should:

  • Read the essay prompt carefully before creating an original essay no more than 1,000 words in length
  • Complete the scholarship application form on this page
  • Submit all essential scholarship materials before October 15, 2025

Scholarship Essay Topic

The Law Offices of James A. Welcome invites students interested in the Strategies for Local Laws Scholarship to consider the following questions:

  • What communities impacted your academic and career goals?
  • How did those communities and the people in them inspire you?
  • What local laws impact those communities?
  • What legislative changes might help those communities flourish?

The team specifically wants to read essays that go into detail about the way local laws could improve the quality of life for a student’s community. These essays should be no more than 1,000 words and need to be a student’s original work. Please do not use AI to generate a scholarship essay.

Formatting Your Essay

The Law Offices of James A. Welcome asks that students include all of the following elements in their scholarship essay:

  • A catchy and original title
  • A bibliography citing any sources used during the creation of the essay
  • Citations, as relevant

Students should also include a header that includes their:

  • Full name
  • The name of the Strategies for Local Law Scholarship
  • The name of the college, university, graduate school, or institution the student plans to attend
  • The name of that institution’s financial aid office
  • The financial aid office’s mailing address, phone number, and email
  • The student’s academic ID number

Students should save and share their finalized essay in the following format: “The Law Offices of James A. Welcome, 2025 – [Student Name].”

Application Deadline

Students must submit their scholarship essays and completed forms to The Law Offices of James A. Welcome by October 15, 2025. Students who try to submit their applications after this deadline passes will not be considered for the Strategies for Local Laws Scholarship.

Likewise, students must include all essential materials in their scholarship forms. The scholarship selection committee cannot consider applications submitted without all essential materials. The firm also cannot accept calls, emails, or in-person visits from students or parents with questions about its scholarship at this time.

With that in mind, make sure you check your scholarship essay and application form twice to ensure you’ve appropriately addressed the essay prompt and included all of your essential information.

Terms and Conditions

All applicants to this scholarship must meet the eligibility requirements as laid out on the scholarship application page, including: 

  • Applicant must be enrolled at a college, university, or graduate school
  • Applicant must be at least 18 years old at the age of enrollment
  • Applicant must have residency in the United States
  • Applicant must be in good academic standing
  • Applicant must submit some personal information, including name, contact information, and academic information
  • Applicant must author an original essay on the scholarship essay topic provided

Anyone who meets the following conditions is NOT eligible to apply: 

  • Employees or children of employees of The Law Offices of James A. Welcome
  • Past recipients of the Strategies for Local Law Scholarship
  • Applicants who are unable/unwilling to be interviewed by a representative of The Law Offices of James A. Welcome if they were to be awarded a scholarship
  • Applicants who submit the same essay for multiple scholarships or multiple years in a row

Selection & Award Notification Process

The scholarship selection committee with The Law Offices of James A. Welcome reserves up to three months to choose a winner after the scholarship deadline passes. We ask that neither students nor their parents contact The Law Offices of James A. Welcome with questions about the status of a student’s application at this time.

Age, race, religion, gender, national origin, familial status, or other protected classes will have no influence on the committee’s decision.

Once the scholarship selection committee chooses its winner, a representative will reach out to that student via email. The Law Offices of James A. Welcome will then announce the winner’s name in a blog post and press release. The winning student can expect the firm to send their scholarship winnings to the student’s academic institution of choice.

Previous Winners 

The Law Offices of James A. Welcome intends to celebrate its scholarship winners with press releases and blog posts shared here. Come back in the future to learn more about the students who’ve impressed The Law Offices of James A. Welcome with their commitment to their communities.