Top law firms come together to support historically underrepresented law students.
We are thrilled to announce our Law School Scholars Program, which connects top law firms with historically underrepresented first-year law students. Law firms pay for tutoring for the law students and also serve as mentors, providing them with valuable career advice.
“Due to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and the racial injustice protests throughout the country, we thought it was very important to make more materials available to diverse students,” said JD Advising founder and CEO Ashley Heidemann, Esq. “That is why we created the Law School Scholars Program. Our top priority has always been providing high-quality materials and services to students, and thanks to the generous sponsorship of so many law firms it is now possible for more students to have access to high-quality resources.”
For the 2021-2022 school year, there are 22 students in the program. Law firms, including Am Law firms, sponsor one or more students in the program, meaning they pay for the materials and services the students receive. These firms also generously give their time to serve as mentors to the students.
“At Warner, part of our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is doing our part to ensure that the future of the legal profession is as vibrant and diverse as the communities and clients that we serve. We are thrilled to sponsor the Law School Scholars Program and invest in the success of these future lawyers,” Kristin Williams, Attorney Recruiting + Development Manager at Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, explained.
The following firms are participating in the program (see image also):
- Bush Seyferth PLLC
- Honigman LLP
- Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss
- King & Spalding LLP
- Latham & Watkins LLP
- Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone
- Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge
- The Heidemann Jabbori Law Firm
- Varnum LLP
- Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
“Honigman has a storied history and commitment to diversity that is a fundamental part of our culture and our continued success.” Chauncey Mayfield II, Hiring Partner, Associates and Summer Associates, stated. “To that end, we appreciate the work of JD Advising and are honored to support the Law School Scholars Program in order to provide additional resources to underrepresented students to assist in further diversifying the legal field and our law firms.”
To be eligible for the JD Advising Law School Scholars Program, first-year law students must meet the following requirements:
- Must be enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school for Fall 2021.
- Must have a minimum of either a 3.0 undergraduate GPA or a 160 LSAT score.
- Must identify as a member of an underrepresented racial, ethnic, or gender group, a member of the LGBTQ community, or disabled.
Many firms are excited about contributing to diversifying the legal profession. Alicia Schehr, Hiring Partner at Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, stated: “Jaffe is excited to sponsor the JD Advising program. The legal profession needs more diverse talent and being an advocate for underrepresented students is the right thing to do for our communities. We look forward to being part of this program to help the students succeed.”
Firms look forward to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. “The Law School Scholars Program is an innovative initiative that Varnum is proud to support, as it represents a tangible investment in diverse talent that will benefit the legal profession as a whole,” said Luis Avila, partner and chair of Varnum’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. “We are pleased to support JD Advising in furtherance of Varnum’s longstanding commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.”
Those who are selected for the JD Advising Scholars Program receive, at no cost to the student:
- Access to JD Advising’s Law School Prep Course Plus
- Ten hours of one-on-one tutoring before and throughout the first semester of law school
- Four study group sessions
- JD Advising Law School One-Sheets, practice problems, and resources
- Potential access to mentorship by a law firm sponsor, and the ability to connect with a law firm during the first year of law school
Applications for 2021 are now closed. However, students who are (a) from a top 25 school or (b) from Michigan or (c) attending a Michigan law school, can still apply if they meet the qualifications. Some firm sponsors are still accepting applicants.
About JD Advising
JD Advising, Inc.’s mission is to help law students, firms, and schools achieve their goals by providing the highest quality legal education services. JD Advising offers prelaw services, law school tutoring services, and bar exam services.
JD Advising is most known for its excellent bar exam services. JD Advising has built a reputation of having high-quality bar exam preparation courses with fantastic passage rates.
JD Advising is a fast-growing company that recently received the 2021 Inc. 5000 award for being one of the fastest growing private companies in the United States.
JD Advising is also proud of its partners. JD Advising works with several law schools, including law schools in the top 10. It also recently partnered with the American Bar Association Law Student Division. Further, it has partnered with numerous prestigious organizations such as Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, Inc. (SEO Law); the National Black Law Students Association; and Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International; among others.
JD Advising’s widely read law school and bar exam blog brings in over a million readers per year. Further, JD Advising was recently featured in Above the Law and the National Jurist as having one of the top bar prep courses.
