Legal Ethics Scholarship

At James Kennedy Law, we believe in upholding ethics in the legal field. The practice of barratry is all too common among attorneys in Texas and throughout the United States, and we work to stand up against unethical practices while fighting to protect people’s rights. Through our scholarship program, we are working to ensure that the next generation of attorneys will uphold these standards.

What Is Barratry?

Barratry is a term used to describe certain types of unethical practices by attorneys. It typically involves using the law for one’s own gain or to earn profits. Unethical attorneys may violate the law through practices such as “ambulance chasing” and attempting to contact injury victims directly to solicit their legal services. They may also use lawsuits to harass or intimidate others. Lawyers who engage in barratry may face discipline, and in some cases, they may even be charged with crimes.

Upholding Legal Ethics

To help address the ongoing issue of barratry, our firm provides an annual scholarship of $1,000 to a law student who is committed to upholding ethics. This scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate an understanding of the issue of barratry and a dedication to ethical legal practices.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

• You are eligible to apply for the James Kennedy Law Legal Ethics Scholarship if you meet the following criteria:
• You are enrolled at an accredited law school or in a pre-law program at a U.S. college or university for the Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 semester
• You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• You have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• You are at least 17 years of age

How Do I Apply?

Your application should include a 500-1,000-word essay response to the following prompt:

• Provide a real-world example of barratry, citing a source such as a news article. Explain why the behavior described in this example is unethical. Discuss what can be done to prevent these types of practices and maintain high ethical standards in the legal field.
• In addition to your essay, we ask that you submit proof of enrollment at a U.S. college or university, an academic transcript detailing your GPA, contact information, and a professional photograph of yourself (.jpg).

The deadline to submit all materials is August 13, 2025 by 11:59 PM.

How Are the Recipients Chosen?

The team at James Kennedy Law will review all applications and select a recipient based on the following criteria:

• Thoughtfulness and originality of the essay response
• Writing quality and clarity
• Compliance with application requirements, including citing a source in the essay
• We will select and notify the recipient by September 15, 2025. Awards will be sent directly to the financial aid office at the recipient’s school.