Congratulations to Ella Drye, our 2025 scholarship recipient. Find out more about our previous winners here!
As a dedicated Maryland criminal defense attorney, Kush Arora focuses his practice on representing individuals accused of offenses ranging from misdemeanors to felonies. The role of a criminal defense attorney is as tough as it is important, as it upholds the presumption of innocence, the cornerstone of our justice system. As such, sound legal counsel is essential for all accused individuals.
Attorney Arora takes his responsibilities seriously within the Maryland criminal justice system. He values students’ recognition and understanding of the justice system, questioning whether laws are just or unjust, and why. These traits are valuable for all citizens, not just criminal justice professionals. Committed to fostering future leaders in legal reform, Attorney Arora provides financial support and academic recognition to those dedicated to these ideals.
Whether pursuing a law degree, a degree in another field related to the criminal justice system, or through civic participation, Attorney Arora believes the success of the criminal justice system depends on bright young individuals pursuing their academic dreams. To support students in achieving their goals and strengthening the justice system, Attorney Arora has established the Kush Arora Federal Justice Reform Scholarship. This scholarship awards $1,000 to a deserving student who demonstrates a thoughtful, well-reasoned view on the justice of specific laws and criminal justice policies.
Application Deadline: November 30th, 2026
Award Amount: $1,000
Eligibility
- The scholarship is available to current high school seniors, vocational students, college students, or graduate students who are legal residents of the United States, living in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia, and enrolled in a vocational program or a two- to four-year post-secondary institution.
- Employees of Kush Arora Criminal Defense Attorney, their immediate families (parents, children, siblings, and spouses), and people living in the same households as these individuals (whether related or not) are not eligible to participate in the competition.
- Candidates for this scholarship must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher and be in good academic standing.
Application Requirements
- The candidate must fill out the form below with all necessary information
- The candidate must submit a 750-1,000-word essay response to the prompt: Provide a well-reasoned argument about whether a specific policy (of your choice) in the criminal justice system is unjust and requires reform, or is just and should remain the same.
- Please note that all essays will be checked for AI writing. If AI-generated writing is detected in the essay, the application will be denied.
- The candidate must submit a professional résumé that lists their professional and academic experience.
- The candidate must submit a transcript from their current school. First-year college students, graduate students, or individuals who have recently transferred schools may submit an unofficial transcript from their current school and the most recent official transcript from their prior school. High school students can submit proof of acceptance to their college or university.
- Preference will be given to students either from or attending secondary school in Maryland.
The recipient of the 2026 Federal Justice Reform Scholarship will be chosen during the month following the scholarship deadline.
For all scholarship-related inquiries, please use this contact form. We are unable to answer scholarship questions by phone, email, or through any other contact forms listed on this website.