Program Aims to Support Incoming Law Students from Groups Historically Underrepresented in the Legal Profession
San Francisco — December 17, 2007 — The California Bar Foundation today announced that it will launch a new Diversity Scholarship Program to help bolster the pipeline of people from diverse backgrounds entering the legal profession. The Foundation will award the first round of Diversity Scholarships, in individual awards of up to $7,500, in the fall of 2008.
Through the Diversity Scholarship Program, the Foundation will provide financial support and confidence-boosting recognition to incoming first-year law students from groups historically underrepresented in the membership of the California Bar. Targeting individuals with financial need and a desire to make a positive impact as a community leader, the Scholarship will help pay the costs of obtaining a law school education, including tuition, fees, books, and related education expenses — costs that keep rising and can leave recent graduates more than $80,000 in debt. Individuals who have been admitted to and have committed to attend a California law school in the fall of 2008 are eligible to apply. The application deadline is June 18, 2008.
"The legal profession can't expect to achieve equal opportunity for all Californians, when — in one of the most diverse states in our nation — we've failed to reach out ourselves to underrepresented communities and diversify our own Bar," said State Bar President Jeff Bleich, who serves on the Foundatio's board of directors. "Over 53% of California's population is Latino, African American, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Native American, but only 17% of our State Bar's membership is. The Foundation's new Diversity Scholarship will help to close this gap by reducing the financial burdens upon minority students with financial need — helping them make it through that grueling 1L year and ultimately succeed in becoming practicing attorneys."
The Foundation is offering law firms and other donors the opportunity to support the Diversity Scholarship Program with tax-deductible donations to the Diversity Scholarship Fund. With a three-year, $10,000 per year pledge, donors may sponsor one of the top scholarship awards and publicly show their support for increasing diversity in the legal profession. Each such scholarship will carry the name of the donor or the donor's firm.
"Echoing sentiments we have heard from all corners of the State Bar membership, who see the issue as a business imperative in today's global economy, the California Bar Foundation has made increasing the number of minority lawyers, particularly African Americans and Latinos, a top priority," said Scott Wylie, Foundation president. "The Foundation has a particularly important role to play in this effort because California's public law schools, as result of Proposition 209, are unable to target support to students of color. We invite lawyers and law firms from across the state to join us in tackling this important issue that affects the future of the profession."
Potential applicants may download the 2008 Diversity Scholarship Application from the Foundation's website (www.calbarfoundation.org). For more information about applying for the Diversity Scholarship, contact the Foundation's program director, Joilene Grove, at jgrove@calbarfoundation.org or (415) 856-0780 ext. 302. For information about giving to the Diversity Scholarship Fund, contact Leslie Hatamiya, executive director, at lhatamiya@calbarfoundation.org or (415) 856-0780 ext. 303.
About the California Bar Foundation
The California Bar Foundation is committed to building a better justice system for all Californians. We champion full and equal access to the justice system, invest in the next generation of public interest lawyers, educate Californians about their rights and responsibilities under the law, and promote philanthropy throughout the legal community. A nonprofit founded in 1990 and affiliated with the State Bar of California, the Foundation annually awards grants to California organizations conducting innovative law-related projects and scholarships to outstanding California law school students. For more information, please visit our website at www.calbarfoundation.org.
Media Contact:
Leslie Hatamiya
(415) 856-0780 ext. 303
lhatamiya@calbarfoundation.org