NEW YORK May 6, 2020: The Morgan Lewis Foundation is pleased to announce seven Diversity Scholarship award winners for 2020. An independent 501(c)(3) organization established by global law firm Morgan Lewis, the Morgan Lewis Foundation has awarded 43 scholarships to promising law students since its founding in 2014.
“The commitment to diversity and inclusion is a core value at Morgan Lewis, influencing how the firm serves clients, collaborates with colleagues, recruits, and engages with local communities,” said Firm Chair Jami McKeon. “That commitment includes a focus on ensuring that outstanding diverse law students have the ability to succeed and thrive in our profession. These recipients are, to a person, remarkable, and we are proud to help them pursue their personal and professional development.”
The foundation’s mission focuses on the larger goal of promoting diversity and inclusion within the profession, where future employment with Morgan Lewis is not a requirement for scholarship recipients. The mission resonates now more than ever as the world navigates the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, when it is vital to economically support others in pursuing their goals.
“We believe that it is especially important to invest in the next generation of diverse leaders, particularly during a time like this,” said Amanda Smith, chief engagement officer and chair of the Morgan Lewis Foundation. “We are honored to have the chance to support these scholars, no matter where they decide to practice.”
The grants—typically $40,000 per student—are provided in four installments at the beginning of each semester of the recipients’ second and third years of law school. The 2020 Morgan Lewis Foundation scholars represent a diverse class of promising lawyers from seven different law schools:
Established using a fee award granted to Morgan Lewis in a historic settlement of a pro bono matter on behalf of African American families working to combat nearly a century of government-sponsored racial segregation in public housing in Baltimore, the Morgan Lewis Foundation provides financial support to promising law students from underrepresented groups. In addition to Amanda Smith, the Morgan Lewis Foundation board includes partners Michelle Park Chiu, Nagwa Hultquist, Rahul Kapoor, Tim Levin, Bob McDonnell, Grace Speights, Chuck Shimada, and Sara Wells.