Canadian Bar Association of British Columbia · National
Canadian Bar Association of British Columbia Aboriginal Scholarship
About this award
Apply by August 1, November 1, or February 1 for one of three annual scholarships for Indigenous students attending law school in British Columbia. Apply through Indspire's central Building Brighter Futures program — one application covers all sponsor pools.
The provider doesn't post a fixed dollar amount — contact the Canadian Bar Association of British Columbia (CBABC — the provincial branch of the national association for legal professionals) to confirm the value for your specific award before you apply. As a scholarship, this money is yours to keep and you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are an Indigenous person pursuing a career in law and planning to study at a participating British Columbia university. You have three different deadlines to choose from: August 1, November 1, and February 1. No notification timeline is posted publicly — when you apply, ask how and when you'll hear back via email, portal, or phone. Selection criteria aren't published — ask the CBABC how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive for these three annual scholarships so you can judge your odds. Ask the CBABC during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with the CBABC whether it's a one-time payment or renewable and what you need to maintain. How to apply: This funding is administered through Indspire's Building Brighter Futures Bursaries & Scholarships program. Students complete one central application that's evaluated against all 360+ of Indspire's funding pools (including this one) — you don't apply to the sponsor directly. The Apply button on this page routes to Indspire's portal automatically. For the full program description, all three application deadlines, and detailed eligibility, see Indspire Building Brighter Futures Bursaries & Scholarships on FundMyCourse.
Can you get it?
- Indigenous — citizenship requirement
- Post Secondary — study level
- Studying Law — field of study
How to apply
Review eligibility and gather your documents~1 hour
Read the official award page end-to-end. Confirm you meet every requirement before you start.
Submit by No deadline~1 hour
Double-check every field, save a copy, and submit at least 24 hours early.
More details
The biggest mistake is writing a generic essay about wanting to be a lawyer.
Winners instead focus on how their specific Indigenous identity and community connection will inform their legal practice.
Describe the specific legal gaps you want to fill for your community.
The biggest mistake is providing references who only know you as a student.
Winners instead include a referee who can speak to their leadership within Indigenous organizations or community initiatives.
Get a letter that proves your active involvement in your community.