The Honorable Arlander Keys Scholarship

The Richard Linn American Inn of Court is proud to offer the Hon. Arlander Keys Scholarship for law students. This scholarship is part of the Linn Inn’s commitment to fostering the development of intellectual property lawyers of high ethics, civility, and professionalism, including those from diverse backgrounds.



Eligibility
Law students enrolled in a Juris Doctorate program at an ABA-accredited HBCU law school in the United States at the time of filing the application and who will continue in that program through the Fall 2026 are eligible to apply for the Hon. Arlander Keys Scholarship. Students eligible for this scholarship should consider also applying for the Mark T. Banner Scholarship offered by the Linn Inn that is awarded on similar criteria except the Banner Scholarship is not limited to HBCU students and requires a focus on the field of intellectual property law.

Selection Criteria
Scholarship recipients will be selected by the Hon. Arlander Keys Scholarship review board based on the following criteria:

1. Enrollment in an ABA-Accredited Law School at an HBCU.
2. Ethics, Civility, and Professionalism: Exemplary qualities and actions reflecting integrity and respect in both personal and professional conduct.
3. Academic Achievement: Strong academic performance in undergraduate, graduate, and law school studies.
4. Exceptional Communication Skills: Written and oral communication abilities, including evaluation through a video interview for finalists.
5. Leadership and Community Engagement: Demonstrated leadership skills and active participation in initiatives that contribute positively to the community.
6. Resilience and Overcoming Adversity: The ability to illustrate personal resilience through overcoming significant challenges or hardships, which could include, but are not limited to, socio-economic disadvantages, first-generation educational attainment, familial or personal hardships, or other compelling circumstances.
7. Demonstrated Interest in Intellectual Property Law: Applicants must show an interest in intellectual property law.

Financial Award
Recipient of the Hon. Arlander Keys Scholarship will receive an amount anticipated to be $10,000, payable during the Summer.

Application Process Applications will be accepted from now through 11:59 p.m. (CST) December 6, 2025. The winner will be notified in January 2026, and the award will be announced at the Richard Linn American Inn of Court Annual Scholarship Dinner in Summer of 2026. Applicants should submit the following documents as a single PDF format file for consideration:

1. Completed Hon. Arlander Keys Scholarship Application Form (this form);
2. Resume;
3. Academic transcripts (law school, undergraduate/graduate school);
4. A legal writing sample (5-10 pages)
5. Three-page statement (maximum) describing (a) how ethics, civility and professionalism have been a focus of the candidate, (b) how the candidate has overcome significant challenges or hardships, and (c) the candidate's commitment to the pursuit of a career in IP law; and
6. Contact information for three references.

   To donate to the Hon. Arlander Keys Scholarship Fund, please click here: