The Root-Tilden-Kern Program is the nation’s premier public service scholarship. Established in 1951, the scholarship has an impressive history; and scholarship alumni are some of the most powerful public service attorneys at work today. The program covers full tuition, without regard to financial need, for three years of law school for outstanding students who promise to pursue public service.
Each year 20 scholars are selected based on three criteria: commitment to public service, academic excellence, and potential for leadership. In addition to full tuition, scholars participate in a program that nurtures future public service leaders by providing unique educational, mentoring, and networking opportunities.
The program defines public service broadly: encompassing policy and legal positions with government, non-profit organizations, academia, social entrepreneurship, community development, and law firms whose primary mission is serving the public interest.
The Root-Tilden-Kern Scholarship believes that diversity is critical to fostering a strong public interest profession, and welcomes applications from candidates of every race, sex, class, ethnicity, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, immigration status, educational and professional background, geographic origin, and socio-economic background.
Within the Root-Tilden-Kern Program, there are several special named scholarships focusing on specific issues. Students receiving those scholarships participate in all Root-Tilden-Kern activities and are chosen in the same selection process:
- FILOMEN M. D’AGOSTINO SCHOLARSHIP FOR WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S RIGHTS
- FILOMEN M. D'AGOSTINO SCHOLARSHIP IN CIVIL RIGHTS, CIVIL LIBERTIES, AND/OR CRIMINAL JUSTICE
- JACOBSON PUBLIC SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP FOR WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES
- LINDEMANN FAMILY PUBLIC SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP
- SINSHEIMER SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP
For more information please review the program description, how to apply, and the selection process. After reading that information, you may want to review the answers to these frequently asked questions.
For more information about the RTK program, contact us at law.rtk@nyu.edu.