Maryland Hispanic Bar Association

2025 LSAT Prep Course Scholarship

The Maryland Hispanic Bar Association (“MHBA”) is dedicated to increasing the diversity of the legal profession. An important part of meeting this goal is increasing the number of Latinx students entering law school.

A significant barrier for many Latinx college students who wish to pursue attend law school is the inability to afford a preparation course for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Additionally, the costs of registering for the exam itself can present a financial barrier to aspiring law students. The LSAT is a required exam for most law schools in the country and serves as a factor for admissions and scholarship awards. Taking an LSAT preparation course can help students achieve higher LSAT scores and ultimately a better chance of being accepted to law school. The MHBA will award scholarships to pay for college students and recent graduates with demonstrated commitment to the Latinx community to offset the costs of taking an LSAT preparation course.

Award

The MHBA scholarship includes registration for an LSAT prep course from Kaplan titled “LSAT Prep – Live Online” and it provides 12 months of unlimited access to expert-led instruction and practice materials – a $1,399 value. The MHBA will work with the awardees and tender payment for courses directly to Kaplan. The Award Receipt will also receive (1) courtesy ticket entry to the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association’s 2025 Gala to network with attorneys and judges in attendance.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must:

Show that they have earned a Bacherlor’s Degree from an accredited 4-year college or university in Maryland, DC, or Virginia, OR be on track to obtain a Bachelor’s degree by the end of 2025 (applicants who have already graduated cannot be more than 5 years out from their graduation date by the application deadline).
Submit an Unofficial Transcript along with their application.
Demonstrate involvement and commitment to the Latinx community.
Be eligible to register and attend the Kaplan LSAT Online Prep Course in 2025 or by 2026.
Plan to sit for the LSAT exam in either 2025 OR by 2026.
Plan to apply to law school for either the Spring of 2026 or later in 2026.
Demonstrate a financial need.
Attend the 32nd Annual Maryland Hispanic Bar Association Gala on Friday, September 19, 2025 in Ellicott City, MD.

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Deadline For Submission

Application materials along with the unofficial transcripts must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM, August 1, 2025.
Submissions are to be submitted via email to: MHBAScholarships@gmail.com
Applicants will receive a confirmation email within 2-3 days after submission. If you do not receive a confirmation by then, it is the applicants responsibility to contact us via the MHBAScholarships@gmail.com email.
Please direct any questions regarding the scholarship to: MHBAScholarships@gmail.com
Scholarship Finalists will be notified via email to attend an online interview with the Scholarship Committee.
Scholarship Winners will be notified via email no later than September 1, 2025.

2025 Scholarship Recipients

Emily Gargallo Gutierrez is a proud first-generation Mexican American college student pursuing her bachelor's degree in criminal justice with a minor in legal studies at Stevenson University, where she will graduate in December 2025.

She currently works as a legal assistant at The Law Office of Cynthia Eskins Christiani, where she provides direct support to Spanish –speaking clients navigating the criminal justice system. Her commitment to advocacy stems from her own lived experiences and her desire to make the justice system accessible to all, particularly Latinx individuals who face language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, and fear of deportation (overall lack of representation/ exclusion). Inspired by role models such as the Honorable Ana Hernandez and Attorney Cynthia Eskins Christiani, Emily aspires to attend law school and become a criminal defense attorney.

Emily plans to apply to the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and the University of Baltimore School of Law. Receiving the MHBA LSAT Scholarship will allow her to continue preparing for law school and pursuing her goal of serving as a voice for her community and to demonstrate the power of representation in the courtroom.

Christian Ramos,

is a Virginia Tech graduate with a B.A. in International Relations and a minor in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. Hailing from Woodbridge, Virginia, he is a proud first-generation son of Peruvian immigrants and the oldest of six brothers.

Christian has three years of experience in immigration and community advocacy at both the federal and state levels. He has served as a Policy Advocate for United We Dream, Legislative Leadership Chair for Virginia21, and completed several policy internships where he reviewed legislation and amplified the voices of immigrant communities.

His proudest achievement is being selected as a John Lewis Young Leader Fellow with Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, a highly competitive national fellowship. Through this program, he organized a Latinx College Student Advocacy Day at the Virginia State Capitol, bringing together students from across the state to advocate for pro-immigrant legislation on healthcare, fair wages, and housing protections.

Christian aspires to become an immigration lawyer, using his JD to navigate and challenge systemic barriers within the legal system. In the future, he hopes to return to policymaking as a legislative aide, bridging law and policy to create a more just system and continue serving as a voice for his community.

Nicole Rios, is a proud first generation Colombian-American with a background in political campaigns and public service. Born and raised in Maryland, she has spent the majority of her education and professional career serving her home state.

She graduated as a Senior Marshal from the University of Maryland with a B.A in Criminology and Criminal Justice and a minor in Law. She has since held several roles in local government and politics, including Latinx Liaison, Policy Aide, and Constituent Caseworker for a County Council Member; Campaign Manager for a successful county council race; and Chief of Staff to a Maryland State Delegate. Most recently, she has worked in corporate, nonprofit, and issue-based event management.

In her free time, Nicole volunteers as a Spanish translator for immigration and housing attorneys. She also serves on the boards of both the Montgomery County Latino Democratic Club and the Montgomery County Women’s Democratic Club. Most importantly, she enjoys spending time with her loving 9-year-old Boxer, Lucas.

Nicole is deeply committed to advancing progressive policy and advocating for marginalized communities. She is confident that this scholarship will support her path to becoming an attorney and strengthen her ability to influence policy, public relations, and community engagement.

Katherine Valladares is a Senior at the University of Maryland majoring in Criminal Justice/Criminology with a minor in General Business. As a proud Peruvian-American raised in Hyattsville, Maryland, a community deeply rooted in immigrant experiences, she has long been aware of the barriers immigrant families face, particularly in accessing legal support and language resources. These early experiences have inspired her interest in pursuing a career in immigration law.

Throughout high school and into college, Katherine dedicated her time to serving the Latinx community. Whether through volunteer work or utilizing her language skills to serve as a translator for Spanish-speaking immigrants, Katherine has sought every opportunity to be a resource for others.

This fall, she will intern at Ayuda, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support to immigrants, where she will further her legal experience. Katherine currently works as a legal assistant at an immigration law firm in Columbia, Maryland, where she supports attorneys and clients in navigating complex immigration processes.

Katherine is currently studying for the LSAT with the goal of attending law school. She envisions for herself a future where she can continue empowering Latinx immigrants, especially those who, like many in my own community, lack the resources or advocacy needed to navigate the legal system.

Felipe Veras is a 2024 graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, with a B.S. in Government & Politics and Public Policy. While at the University of Maryland, he was involved in extracurricular activities such as the Student Government Association, which allowed him to fund and host a Hispanic-based cultural event on campus.

Felipe currently works at Witherup Allen Law LLC, which is known for its immigration services as well as other practice areas. He plans to continue studying for the LSAT with the MHBA scholarship and continue to learn alongside Attorney Roberto Allen, a person he considers a mentor. In addition to his work, he is committed to volunteering at his local church, where he strives to give back and uplift his community.

In his free time, Felipe enjoys collecting vinyl records, going to the gym, attending social events with friends, and traveling.

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