The Squire Patton Boggs Foundation has awarded its inaugural Justice Jump Start Fellowships, expanding its Fellowship program to include graduating law students and advancing the Foundation’s mission of improving access to justice and the rule of law.
The below Fellows were selected for the inaugural honor:
- Jacob Foor of the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville, Arkansas will begin his public service work for the Immigrant Justice Corps in Fayetteville;
- Alison McMahon of the University of Colorado Law School in Boulder, Colorado will begin her public service work for the Colorado Office of the Attorney General; and
- David Meredith of Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio will begin his public service work for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office.
The Fellowships are a product of a collaboration between the Foundation, the law schools, and participating public service organizations. The Foundation is making a $3,000 grant to each graduating student to relieve bar preparation and exam costs as they begin their public service careers. The Fellows will also be compensated as they “jump start” their public service careers after their bar exams.
“The Squire Patton Boggs Foundation is establishing the Justice Jump Start Fellowship to help graduating law students who are eager to pursue public service jump start their careers,” said John Oberdorfer, Foundation President. “Many law students graduate with sizeable debt and in addition to lower salaries, those considering working for non-profit legal organizations or government legal offices face disincentives to pursue this important work.”
As part of the Foundation’s on-going work to expand access to justice, the Justice Jump Start Fellowship will complement the Foundation’s summer Fellowship program, which for 20 years has provided financial and programmatic support for more than 380 exceptional law students pursuing public service and advocacy careers.
Foundation Chairman and former U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater added, “Congratulations to Jacob, Alison, and David on being the Foundation’s inaugural recipients of our Justice Jump Start Fellowship. These graduating law students commit themselves to advancing access to justice and the rule of law through their service to non-profit institutions and government agencies, and I applaud their dedication to this imperative cause.”
Quotes from Law School Deans:
“The University of Arkansas School of Law is thrilled and honored that Jacob Foor has been selected as an inaugural recipient of the Justice Jump Start Fellowship. This new Squire Patton Boggs Foundation fellowship encourages and enables our graduates to pursue public service careers, which reflects our land grant mission.” – University of Arkansas School of Law Dean Cynthia Nance
“Empowering the next generation of lawyers to serve the public good is a profound privilege. I’m proud to say that Colorado Law graduates not only excel as legal practitioners but also as civic leaders, and Alison McMahon exemplifies this. We celebrate the Squire Patton Boggs Foundation’s commitment to public service and are thrilled Alison will be the inaugural recipient of the Justice Jump Start Fellowship.” – Colorado Law Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss
“The new Justice Jump Start Fellowship is enabling CWRU School of Law graduate David Meredith to launch his career at the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office. We are truly grateful for the generosity of the Squire Patton Boggs Foundation, which is making it possible for students like David to pursue their dream jobs in public service.” – Case Western Reserve University School of Law Dean Michael Scharf