Sidley Prelaw Scholars Initiative

Program Description and Requirements

Click here to download the 2009 Sidley Scholars application.

Click here to download the 2009 Sidley Scholars recommendation form.

The Sidley Prelaw Scholars Initiative is designed to increase diversity in law schools by subsidizing the cost of applying to law school for talented financially needy minority students.

“Sidley has a significant commitment to achieving greater ethnic and racial diversity within the legal profession and the firm. We wanted to develop a program that would widen the pipeline by helping to eliminate barriers at an earlier stage in a student’s career,” said Thomas A. Cole, chairman of the firm’s Executive Committee. “Our Diversity Committee and staff are to be congratulated for developing this creative approach.”

“From my personal experience as a graduate of a historically black university, I know that there is a need for more financial assistance for students from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) who are hopeful of obtaining professional degrees. We believe that the Sidley Prelaw Scholars Initiative will create opportunities for graduates at HBCUs and for financially needy students from other institutions,” said Stanley Stallworth. Stallworth is the firmwide Co-chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee, which is responsible for implementing the firm’s policies and initiatives relating to diversity and inclusion.

Director of Diversity Kathryn R. Stell oversees the Sidley Prelaw Scholars Initiative. “Working with minority undergraduates [as an admissions professional at the University of Chicago Law School] made me acutely aware of the financial barriers preventing many diverse students from becoming viable law school candidates. The Sidley Prelaw Scholars Initiative helps meet the needs of [those] candidates.”

Elements of the Program

For each Scholar, the firm pays for:

• Tuition for an approved LSAT preparatory course;
• Registration fees for the June LSAT and the LSDAS; and
• Up to seven (7) Law School application fees and LSDAS reports

Each Scholar also receives:

• Coaching on how to complete a successful law school application;
• An additional $2,500 in scholarship assistance; and
• Prelaw school instruction on the structure of the American legal system, as well as an introduction to the substance of the required common law first-year courses.

Eligibility

To be considered as a Sidley Prelaw Scholar, one must:

• Be a second semester junior or senior, graduating from college in good standing no later than June 30, 2010;
• Be a native-born or naturalized U.S. citizen;
• Submit all application materials by the February 13, 2009 deadline; and
• Demonstrate financial need through the application and supporting materials.

Expectations of Sidley Prelaw Scholars

Each Scholar is expected to:

• Graduate in good standing from college no later than June 30, 2010
• Meet all LSAT, law school application and program deadlines
• Attend all classes associated with the LSAT preparatory course
• Be available via telephone and email to Sidley administrators and lawyers from April 2009 through September 2009. Upon commencement of law school, remain in touch with Sidley administrators to provide feedback on how the Sidley Prelaw Scholars Initiative is benefiting the Sidley Prelaw Scholar during the first year of law school.*

*Note: Although we encourage Sidley Prelaw Scholars eventually to consider Sidley Austin LLP when considering law firm employment, being a Sidley Prelaw Scholar does not obligate one to apply for a summer clerkship or permanent position with any Sidley office, nor is Sidley obligated to interview or hire any Sidley Prelaw Scholar.

2009 Application and Instructions

Click here to download the 2009 Sidley Scholars application.

Click here to download the 2009 Sidley Scholars recommendation form.

For the 2009 program, apply from ONE of the following two applicant groups:

Applicant Group I

Students who are currently enrolled at one of the following undergraduate institutions: 

Alabama A&M University Columbia University Emory University  Florida A&M University Fordham University Georgetown University Hampton University Harvard University Howard University Jackson State University  Miami University (Ohio) Morehouse College New York University Northwestern University Princeton University

Southern University Spelman College Texas Southern University Tuskegee University University of California/Berkeley University of California/Los Angeles University of Chicago University of Illinois/Champaign-Urbana University of Miami University of Michigan/Ann Arbor University of Southern California University of Texas/Austin University of Virginia Washington University Yale University

Applicant Group II

Any otherwise eligible applicant from any accredited American four-year undergraduate college not listed in Group I. Up to five candidates may be selected from Group II.

2009-2010 Program Timeline

Friday, February 13, 2009	Sidley Prelaw Scholars applications due. Application must include: (1) official college transcript (2) a copy of most recent FAFSA SAR (Student Aid Report) (3) a resume (4) a completed academic reference form (see application)
February 16-25, 2009	Top applicant interviews
Friday, March 6, 2009	2009 Sidley Scholars named and posted on www.sidleyscholars.com
March – April 2009	Sidley Scholars are expected to: (1) enroll in an approved* LSAT prep course (2) register for the June LSAT
Monday, June 8, 2009	June LSAT exam
January 15, 2010	Sidley Prelaw Scholars will have completed and submitted at least five (5) law school applications
Summer 2010	S4: Sidley Scholars Summer Seminar
Fall 2010	2009 Sidley Scholars begin law school

*Approved prep course providers: Kaplan, Princeton Review, TestMasters

To apply for the Sidley Prelaw Scholars Initiative, download the application form and download the recommendation form. The application form should be submitted as instructed by Friday, February 13, 2009. All application materials must be postmarked by February 13, 2009 to be considered.

For more information, please contact sidleyscholars@sidley.com.

Sidley Scholars Summer Seminar

The Sidley Scholar Summer Seminar (S4) is designed to:

• Introduce the Scholars to the American legal system.
• Introduce the Scholars to the basic concepts of the common law courses they will take in their first year of law school.
• Give the Scholars an opportunity to meet and develop relationships with practicing Sidley lawyers, both partners and associates.
• Create a network of support for the Scholars as they begin their legal careers.

During the weekend, the Scholars will participate in classroom-style legal seminars taught by practicing lawyers, as well as social events designed to introduce them to Sidley partners and associates. We hope that as a result of the Sidley Scholars Summer Seminar, the Scholars will come away with a preliminary idea of the legal concepts they will be exploring in their first year of law school. We also look forward to providing a community of support and mentorship for the Scholars as they make their way through law school, and eventually join the legal profession as our colleagues.