Open Courts Scholarship

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Matthew J. Hill has practiced family law in Texas for 20 years, and much of that time has been spent on a problem most people never see until they are in it: family court is hard to navigate without a lawyer, and many people have no choice but to try. From 2023 to 2025 he served as president of Texans Concerned for Family Law Justice, a nonprofit working to make Texas family courts more affordable and accessible. The Open Courts Scholarship takes its name from the Texas Constitution’s promise that “all courts shall be open,” and asks students to take on that same problem.

Through the Open Courts Scholarship, our firm offers two $1,000 awards every semester. The High School and Undergraduate Award is open to high school seniors and current undergraduate students. The Graduate and Professional Award is open to students working toward a master's, doctoral, or professional degree, including law.

We are currently accepting applications until the final due date of May 3, 2027.

Submit Your Application

All scholarship applicants must respond to the following prompt in 750-1,250 words:

Essay Prompt

Many people who go to family court in this country do so without a lawyer. Pick one specific point in that process where the absence of a lawyer costs an ordinary person something real — the use of a form, a hearing, a filing deadline, a rule of evidence, a fee. Explain what goes wrong and why. Then propose one concrete change—to a rule, a form, a court practice, a piece of technology, or a public program—that would fix it. Finally, say honestly what your change would cost and who would object to it, and why they might be right. Cite at least two sources you actually read — a court’s own self-help materials, a statute or rule, a study, or a news report, for example.

Your essay should be uploaded as a PDF or Word document. Sources must be real and must say what the essay says they say. A fabricated or misdescribed source disqualifies the application. Applicants must also attach a separate signed statement confirming that they wrote the essay.

To be considered for our scholarship program, please attach a copy of your unofficial or official transcript as well as proof of enrollment at an accredited school. High school seniors may submit proof of current high school enrollment; proof of college acceptance is not required to apply.

Evaluation Criteria

All essays will be reviewed in detail by our scholarship judges according to the following rubric:

  • Does the essay answer the question asked — a specific problem, a specific fix, and an honest account of what the fix would cost?
  • Is it concrete? We are looking for particular forms, rules, courts, numbers, and moments, not general statements about fairness.
  • Does it reason? The strongest essays take the strongest objection to their own proposal seriously.
  • Are the sources real, actually read, and accurately described?

Award Amount

$1,000 awards to two students per college semester

Presented by

Hill Family Law, PLLC

Scholarship Deadline

The deadline to apply is 05/03/2027 at 11:59 PM.

Eligibility Requirements

Before applying for the Open Courts Scholarship, please review our full list of eligibility requirements:

  • You must be a high school senior, or be enrolled at or hold an offer of admission to an accredited U.S. college, university, or professional school for a term beginning within 12 months of the award date. A high school senior selected as a winner must show an offer of admission before the award is paid.
  • You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0, or the equivalent if your school uses a different metric.
  • You must be at least 17 years old by the time of the application deadline.
  • You must be a citizen of the United States.

We accept students from all majors, programs, or chosen career paths.

Additionally, employees of Hill Family Law, PLLC and of OVC Inc., and their immediate families, are not eligible for the award.

Have More Questions? Reach Out Today

If you need additional clarification about the Open Courts Scholarship, we are available for questions at scholarship@hillfamilylaw.com. We encourage applicants to contact us ahead of the deadline to ensure a prompt response.

Good Luck!
Hill Family Law, PLLC

Scholarship Application

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The Hill Family Law, PLLC Open Courts Scholarship is managed through the OVC Scholarship Network.