Scholarship Contest from Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega

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At Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega, we believe in supporting students as they pursue higher education and prepare to make a meaningful impact in their communities. Through our work, we’ve seen how unexpected events—like workplace injuries—can change the course of a person’s life. This scholarship is an opportunity to invest in students’ futures while encouraging thoughtful reflection on the challenges individuals face and the importance of legal support during difficult times.

How to Apply

To be considered for the Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega Scholarship, applicants must submit a thoughtful essay addressing the prompt below. We encourage students to reflect on real-world challenges and demonstrate critical thinking, empathy, and clarity in their writing.

Applicants must submit a 500-word essay responding to the following prompt:

“Injuries at work don’t just affect a person’s job. Describe how a workplace injury could change someone’s life and why legal support during that time matters.”

Scholarship Details

• Application Opens: May 1, 2026
• Application Deadline: July 1, 2026
• Winner Announced: August 2026
• Award Amount: $1,500 (one-time scholarship)
• Eligibility: U.S. residents or resident aliens currently enrolled in a U.S. college or university
• Submission Method: All applications must be submitted electronically using the form below

Scholarship Selection Process

Our judges will review all entries received by the deadline. A winner will be selected within approximately six weeks of the submission deadline. One winner will be awarded the scholarship, and notable entries may also be published on the Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega website. The scholarship check will be sent directly to the winner’s college or university.

Guidelines and Tips from the Judges

The judges, who review a high volume of submissions, have provided the following tips to help you craft a strong essay:

• Answer the prompt clearly. Submissions that do not address the question will be disqualified.
• Be transparent about your use of AI. If AI tools are used, disclose this and include the prompts used.
• Use AI for brainstorming—not as a replacement for your own writing.
• Carefully consider your prompts to generate relevant and meaningful ideas.
• Explore multiple perspectives to create a well-rounded response.
• Ensure your essay reflects your own critical thinking and analysis.
• Cite any sources used, including AI-generated content.
• Use paragraphs and spacing to organize your ideas clearly.
• Stay within the word count requirement. Essays more than 50 words above or below may be disqualified.
• Use tools like Grammarly to review your work.
• Read your essay aloud to ensure clarity and flow.

Submit your essay as a Word document. Other formats may not be accepted.

Ownership of Entries

All scholarship entries submitted to Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega, along with all associated rights, become the property of the firm. By submitting an entry and signed application form, you acknowledge that the firm may publish and promote the content.

Entrants also consent to the use of their name, school or university, likeness (such as a photograph), and prize information.

The information collected from applicants will not be used to solicit business or sold to third-party solicitors.

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.