2026 Russell & Lazarus Scholarship

2026 Russell & Lazarus Scholarship

At Russell & Lazarus, we believe in standing up for people during life’s most difficult
moments. Through this scholarship, we recognize students who demonstrate resilience,
leadership, and a commitment to making a positive difference in their communities.

We are affording this opportunity to five (5) Orange County high school students who
have an interest in pursuing an education in law with the interest in pursuing a career as
an attorney or paralegal to earn a $500 educational stipend each.

We are also allowing this opportunity to three (3) Orange County post-high school
students who have an interest in pursuing attending law school to earn a $1,500
scholarship each.

The scholarship is being offered in partnership with the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association (OCHBA)

Submissions:

Create a 2 to 3-minute video on one of the four topics below:

1) Describe an issue, opportunity, or experience that has shaped your perspective
on the Hispanic community. How have you contributed—or how do you hope to
contribute—to creating a positive change through your education, leadership, or
service?

2) Have you or a loved one benefited from the help of an attorney? How impactful
was that experience, and did it influence your decision to go into the legal
profession? Or, did you have a disappointing experience with an attorney (or
someone claiming to be an attorney) that made you decide to move into law so
that you can be the change? Unfortunately, the Hispanic community is often
scammed by fake attorneys, and the losses are grave.

3) Describe a moment when you stood up for someone, served your community, or
helped solve a problem. How has that experience shaped your future goals?

4) Describe an issue, opportunity, or experience that has shaped your perspective
on the Hispanic community. How have you contributed—or how do you hope to
contribute—to creating positive change through your education, leadership, or
service?

Submission Parameters

• Length: 2–3 minutes (maximum 3 minutes)
• Format: MP4, MOV, or a shareable video link (YouTube, Vimeo,
  Google Drive, etc.)
• Recording: Landscape or portrait is acceptable.
• Presentation: Speak directly to the camera.
• Language: English.
• Originality: The video must be the applicant’s original work. No AI.
• Deadline: [Insert date and time]
• Submit via email to: [email protected]
• Follow our Instagram @russellandlazarusapc, @abogadosrussellylazarus, and follow the Instagram account of the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association @ochba.org
• You must include the following with your email submission: “I,_____[name]__, am the original author of the content which I am submitting, and I grant Russell & Lazarus, APC and to Orange County Hispanic Bar Association to republish this submission without any reservations whatsoever.”
• Winners will be required to attend a mixer in Newport Beach to receive their scholarships and/or stipends, where they will be honored, and their submission will be played for those in attendance.

Evaluation Criteria

Applicants will be evaluated on:

• Authenticity – Shares genuine experiences and perspectives.
• Connection to the Topic – Clearly addresses the question.
• Goals – Demonstrates initiative, impact, or future goals.
• Communication Skills – Organized, engaging, and easy to follow.
• Vision for the Future – Explains how the scholarship will help achieve
  educational and community goals.

Tips for Applicants

• Share a personal story or meaningful experience.
  Explain why this issue or experience matters to you.
• Discuss how your education and future goals align with serving your
  community.
• Be yourself—there’s no expectation for professional editing or production
  quality. A clear, sincere video recorded on a phone is perfectly acceptable.

At our firm, we believe that everyone deserves to be supported during difficult times,
and we want to encourage people in the community who want to do the same.

Thank you.
Marc Lazarus – Managing Attorney, Russell & Lazarus

2026 Russell & Lazarus Scholarship

Applicant Information

1. Full Name(Required)

First Last

2. Email Address(Required)

Enter Email Confirm Email

3. Phone(Required)

Country Phone Number

4. City of Residence(Required)

5. Current School / College(Required)

6. Current Grade Level / Year in School(Required)

9th Grade

10th Grade

11th Grade

12th Grade

College / Post-High School

Other

7. Expected Graduation Date(Required)

Month

Day

Year

Scholarship Eligibility

8. Which scholarship are you applying for?(Required)

High School Student - $500 Educational Stipend

Post-High School Student - $1,500 Scholarship

9. Are you an Orange County resident?(Required)

Yes

No

For High School Applicants:

10. Which legal career are you most interested in?(Required)

Attorney

Paralegal

Other

Undecided

For Post-High School Applicants:

11. Do you plan to attend law school?(Required)

Yes

No

Unsure

Video Submission

12. Which scholarship prompt are you responding to?(Required)

Prompt 1

Prompt 2

Prompt 3

Prompt 4

13. Upload Video Submission(Required)

Accepted file types: mp4, mov, Max. file size: 256 MB.

Please upload a video no longer than 3 minutes.

Applicant Agreement

Agreement #1(Required)

I certify that the video submission is my original work and was created without the use of AI.

Agreement #2(Required)

I understand that if selected as a winner, I will be required to attend a scholarship mixer in Newport Beach, where scholarship recipients will be recognized and their video submissions may be played for those in attendance.

Agreement #3(Required)

I agree to the following: “I, [Name], am the original author of the content which I am submitting, and I grant Russell | Lazarus, APC and the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association permission to republish this submission without reservation.”

Electronic Signature (Applicant's Full Name)(Required)

Submit

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