Indigenous Bar Association · National
Indigenous Bar Association (IBA) Scholarship
About this award
Get funding to attend the annual fall conference and a certificate of recognition—apply by August 1, November 1, or February 1. Apply through Indspire's central Building Brighter Futures program — one application covers all sponsor pools.
The provider doesn't post a fixed dollar amount for the main award, but you will receive funds directly from the IBA (the Indigenous Bar Association — a national professional organization for Indigenous legal professionals) to attend its annual fall conference. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are an Indigenous person pursuing a career in law and want to connect with other legal professionals. You have three deadlines to choose from: August 1, November 1, and February 1. No notification timeline is posted publicly — before you start the application, check the Indigenous Bar Association's program page or call their office to confirm when you will hear back. Three scholarships will be awarded. Selection criteria aren't published — ask the Indigenous Bar Association how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask the Indigenous Bar Association 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 Indigenous Bar Association whether it's one-time 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?
- Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident — citizenship requirement
- Post Secondary — study level
- Studying Law, legal studies — 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 listing your grades without context.
Winners instead explain how their legal studies will help them advance social justice for Indigenous peoples.
Describe a specific legal issue you are passionate about solving.
The biggest mistake is providing a generic character reference.
Winners instead use referees who can speak to their leadership within the Indigenous legal community.
Ask a professor or a mentor in the legal field to highlight your specific contributions.