Category: Financial Aid and Scholarships

Purpose

At the Legal Aid Society we believe excellence and diversity go hand in hand. Diversity produces different perspectives, richer thinking, creative solutions, and a collegial culture of mutual respect.  In sum, it enhances our ability to represent clients whose basic human needs are threatened.

Through the Carl Wedekind Diversity Scholars Program at the Legal Aid Society, we demonstrate our commitment to increase the number of attorneys who are historically underrepresented and who wish to pursue a career in public interest law. The Carl Wedekind Diversity Scholars Program affords the opportunity for a law student to spend a summer with us assisting our attorney staff with legal problems faced by low-income families.

Eligibility

To be selected as a Carl Wedekind Diversity Scholar at the Legal Aid Society, students must be enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school and intend to practice in the Louisville-area upon graduation.  Students must have successfully completed the first year of a full-time J.D. program by May 2017, and must be able to spend 12 weeks during the summer to work fulltime at the Legal Aid Society.

Award

The Carl Wedekind Diversity Scholars Program awards a financial stipend of $3,500 to the Diversity Scholar.

Application

To be considered for the Carl Wedekind Diversity Scholars Program, please contact lawcareerplanning@uakron.edu for an application.  Completed applications forms should be submitted with resume, unofficial or official law school transcript, and a personal statement to Legal Aid Society by MARCH 11, 2017  and sent to Melissa Foster, Executive Assistant, at mfoster@laslou.org.

 

The School of Law is accepting applications for the David D. Dowd Sr. Memorial Award. Named in tribute to a distinguished attorney dedicated to public service and created by Judge David D. Dowd, Jr. upon the 25^th anniversary of his service in the federal judiciary, the purpose of the Dowd Award is to promote a commitment to public service for all lawyers.  Dowd Awards are directed to Akron Law students interested in seeking professional careers in public service following graduation.

To be eligible, you must:

First priority is given to those who have completed their second year or students who have completed their third year (part-time) by Spring of 2017. Students completing first year (full-time) or second year (part-time) will also be considered.

Show a commitment to public service; Be capable of working 20 hours per week during the summer of 2017 for minimum  of ten weeks in a public service position; Be committed to working in a public setting upon graduation.

Placements this summer – in order of preference: 

1^st Preference        Office of the County Prosecuting Attorney in Stark, Summit, and Wayne Counties; the law departments in the cities of Akron, Canton, Massillon and the public defenders offices in Summit and Stark Counties .

2^nd Preference:     The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio and the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of Ohio.

3^rd Preference:      Other prosecuting attorney offices in Ohio and other municipal law department offices in the state of Ohio.

4^th Preference:      Other not already listed public service agencies

The student will be expected to work 20 hours per week for not less than 10 weeks.

If you are interested in being considered for this award, you shall write a letter of purpose to apply for the award, addressing the topic of public service in the context of his or her goals in the legal profession, both short and long term. The letter should also specify the legal setting in which the student proposes to serve from among those cited above. Please submit the cover letter and resume to the Career Planning Office at lawcareerplanning@uakron.edu or by hard copy by April 1, 2017. A committee will review applications and a student will be selected before the spring term is over.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Pipeline to Practice Foundation seeks to support members of groups that are historically underrepresented in the legal profession. The Foundation believes that diversity can be defined along several dimensions, including: race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, socioeconomic status, first generation graduate, physical abilities and military service.

If you will begin your first year of law school in the fall of 2017 at an ABA-approved law school, and feel that your participation will diversify the legal profession, draft a diversity statement that does not exceed 500 words and submit it with the online application prior to May 1, 2017.  The Program Participant Selection Committee will notify all applicants of its decision by June 1, 2017.

Law Office of Matthew L Sharp Need-Based Scholarship

Amount: $2,000

Due Date: 6/1/17