Aird Berlis LLP · National
The Kimberley Thomas Indigenous Law StudentScholarship Provided by Aird & Berlis LLP
About this award
Get $10,000 a year for up to 3 years if you are an Indigenous law student studying in Ontario — apply by August 1, November 1, or February 1. Apply through Indspire's central Building Brighter Futures program — one application covers all sponsor pools.
You can receive $10,000 annually, for up to three years. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. The money is meant to help you pay for your tuition and other costs like textbooks and administrative fees. This is for you if you are an Indigenous law student who wants to pursue a career in the legal field while receiving financial support for your studies. 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 Aird Berlis LLP's program page or call their office to confirm when you will hear back. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Aird Berlis LLP how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Aird Berlis LLP 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 Aird Berlis LLP 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?
- Indigenous — citizenship requirement
- Post Secondary — study level
- Resident of ON — provincial eligibility
- 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 talk about how their specific Indigenous identity and community goals match the firm's history of collaborating with Indigenous stakeholders.
Describe exactly how this funding removes a barrier to your graduation.
The biggest mistake is using professors who only know your grade.
Winners use referees who can speak to their leadership in the Indigenous community or their commitment to social justice.
Ask your referee to provide a specific example of your resilience.