Nicole Clemens, a third year law student at Santa Clara University School of Law has received a California Bar Foundation Scholarship.
This year, the Foundation is distributing $187,500 in Law School Scholarships to 39 students from 17 California law schools. Recipients, who are nominated by their law schools and demonstrate a commitment to public service, academic excellence, and financial need, receive scholarships of up to $7,500 to assist with tuition and related education expenses. Six of the top recipients will receive scholarships named for one of the sponsoring law firms. For the second year, the Foundation is also recognizing one scholar who has demonstrated a deep commitment to children’s issues as the Jim Pfeiffer Scholar, in honor of the Foundation’s founding executive director. The Foundation will distribute the awards at a reception on Thursday, September 27, at the State Bar of California’s Annual Meeting in Anaheim.
Since 1992, the Foundation has awarded more than $2 million in Law School Scholarships to nearly 500 students attending 27 California law schools. A recent survey conducted by the Foundation indicated that almost two-thirds of tracked scholarship alumni continue to practice public interest law, often for legal aid agencies, public interest law firms, public defender and district attorney offices, and other nonprofit and government agencies.
"Investing in the next generation of public interest lawyers is a cornerstone to building a better justice system," said Scott Wylie, the Foundation’s president. "With an array of work and volunteer experiences at public defender offices, Street Law projects, civil rights organizations, HIV clinics, international relief organizations, and many other community groups, this year’s scholarship winners are inspiring. The breadth and depth of their leadership ability and commitment to the community give us hope for the continued vitality of our justice system."
