When law firms team up with law schools to promote or establish scholarship, it is always welcome news. Not because efforts, as these, purge off the tainted reputation firms gain for their alleged money-minting tactics, but because it means they also care for the society.

Law firm Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs joins this distinguished group of donors, who have time and again established scholarships to support students from the underrepresented racial or ethnic population. The law firm will help the School of Law’s diversity goals by establishing a scholarship to be awarded to such a student from the minority population.

 

However, there are some eligibility criteria earmarked for the recipients. They must obtain an LSAT score of 153 and a minimum grade point average of 3.0 to benefit from the scholarship. Over and above, Tennessee or Kentucky residents are at an advantageous position, while applying for the scholarship. The award, set to begin fall 2007 semester, is renewable for two additional years if the student secures a position among the top 50 % of the class. Additionally, the scholarship recipient will also be offered summer internship with the law firm.

“It’s (scholarship) going to give a minority student the ability to go that might not have otherwise been able to go and compete,” says Glen Reid, partner in charge of the Memphis office of the law firm. James Smoot, dean of the University of Memphis’ Cecil C. Humphreys Law School, agreeing to this, added “this program is unique in that it goes directly toward helping a student pay for his or her tuition.”As cost of higher education is escalating, scholarships as this, aid the economically challenged, but academically strong students, to pursue their goals. “The Wyatt scholarship commitment will enable us to bring to our law school some students who would otherwise not be able to afford it,” added dean Smoot.

Minority enrollment, according to the American Bar Association, in all schools in the U.S. has seen an upsurge. During the 2005-2006 school year, of the 43,883 law degrees awarded at 195 schools, 9,564 were minority students, or 21.8 %. Now, that’s some rise for sure.

All that one can add is “may their tribe increase!”