Opening Doors:
The Scholarship Campaign for Northwestern Pritzker Law
“The Opening Doors campaign is our chance to remove the financial barriers for students with extraordinary potential, ensuring that the highest-performing students, regardless of their financial circumstances, can access a Northwestern Pritzker Law education. Together, we will make a difference for today’s students, and for generations to come.”
Zachary D. Clopton
Dean and Daniel Hale Williams Professor of Law
Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Thank you to our campaign committee for their leadership and extraordinary generosity:
Jordon L. Kruse (JD ’97) · Chair
Sherrese M. Smith (JD ’96) · Chair
Jonathan L. Entin (JD ’81)
Drew S. Fine (JD ’87)
Alexander F. Paul (JD ’00)
Holding Open the Door
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Cultivate a more diverse, resilient, and innovative generation of lawyers
Scholarships are not simply financial awards; they are strategic investments in leadership, equality, and justice. By strengthening our commitment to both merit- and need-based aid, we are shaping a legal profession that more fully reflects and serves the society it is entrusted to uphold.
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Open up a range of future career possibilities outside of Big Law
While many of our graduates are passionate about Big Law, for others, a different career may hold more appeal. Scholarships ease post-graduation debt, making it possible for graduates to pursue:
‧ Public interest law
‧ Government service
‧ Judicial clerkships
‧ Rural or underserved community practice
‧ Nonprofit and advocacy roles -
Create new educational expectations within families and communities
When a student at Northwestern Pritzker Law receives a scholarship, it’s not just their life that changes. Beyond providing inspiration to families and friends within a community, scholarships create tangible benefits for communities through Northwestern Pritzker Law graduates who are financially able to give back through gifts of time and service.
By the numbers
AS OF ACADEMIC YEAR 2025-2026
$79K
COST OF JD PROGRAM TUITION
$180K
AVERAGE STUDENT DEBT AT GRADUATION
65%
JD STUDENTS RECEIVE SOME FORM OF AID
$40K
MEDIAN ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP
Your Generosity Makes a Real Difference
This is a critical time for our great Law School, our nation, and our profession. Now is the time to support our students through creating a new scholarship or supporting an existing scholarship fund.