OpEdNews - Page 2 of Article: TUTION-FREE LAW SCHOOL for Activists!

UDC-DCSL and its supporters know that graduation from law school with high loan debt can deter or derail public service. For this reason, UDC-DCSL now offering up to 20 three-year full-tuition Advocate for Justice Scholarships each year, beginning with members of the class entering in fall, 2008. The award of these scholarships will be based equally upon the Scholarship Selection Committee’s evaluation of applicants’ academic talent and their proven commitment as advocates for justice. Toward this end, the Committee will consider applicants’ undergraduate and graduate fields of study; grades; LSAT scores; publications; academic, personal and professional recommendations; as well as evidence of their professional and voluntary experience and other pertinent information.

Due to our emphasis on demonstrated commitment to working for justice, some successful scholarship applicants may be more than a few years out of college, with “real world” experience. We strongly encourage second and third career applicants to apply. However, we also encourage applicants of all ages, including recent graduates who feel that their track record reveals a deep commitment to the social good.

The School of Law is the nation’s most diverse, with 55% students of color, 33% African-American, 12% Latino, and 10% Asian, Middle Eastern and Native American. DC residents, people of color and others from groups under-represented in the legal profession as well as those interested in public interest law are strongly encouraged to apply.

UDC-DCSL Advocate for Justice Scholarship Information: http://www.law.udc.edu/prospective/afj.html

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One Current Student's View:

"Also, for what it's worth, some things that I (having been to another law school) think are great about our school:

- The non-competitive atmosphere, camraderie, etc. (which is, I think, related to our size & mission)
- The ability to form relationships with professors (ditto)
- That everyone gets to participate in clinic (whether they like it or not!)
- The fact that many professors still practice (so that clients are still real people to them)
- The number of students from working class backgrounds and/or progressive students and/or students of color
- The school's community-based mission and the fact that it's actually put into action
- The fact that I don't have to say "I'll only have to practice in a firm for a decade (to pay off my loans) before I can start doing public interest work" and then wonder if I'm going to have to spend ten years after that simply working to undo the damage I just did."

For more information:
General: www.law.udc.edu
Advocates for Justice Program: http://www.law.udc.edu/prospective/afj.html
Admissions nuts and bolts: Donald Pritchett: DPritchett@udc.edu

Joe Libertelli
University of the District of Columbia
David A. Clarke School of Law
4200 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008

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