No one is an island. Today’s communities have a direct impact on the children raised in them, often shaping their views and long-term goals. White Law PLLC wants today’s college students to think critically about the way their communities have transformed their lives and how the degrees they’re pursuing may impact the institutions that changed them the most.
It was with this goal in mind that the firm decided to create its Paying It Forward – How My Degree Will Make a Difference Scholarship.
This year, White Law PLLC is proud to award its Paying It Forward – How My Degree Will Make a Difference Scholarship to Stephanie at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Stephanie is a 3L, and she intends to take the Bar Exam in July 2025. The team is proud to support her through her final semester of law school.
Getting to Know Stephanie
Stephanie is a first-generation law student who, in her own words, never anticipated going to graduate school. As she pursued her education, though, questions came to light: how could she, an advocacy-driven young woman, stand up for other people as she advanced in her career?
Her questions about the finer points of advocacy and desire to stand up for people led her to explore the complexities of Michigan’s housing crisis. When she applied for law school, she found opportunities to intern with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. She also serves as a Teaching Assistant for the Affordable Housing course at Detroit Mercy Law.
Stephanie reports that she is passionate about affordable housing law, referring to it as a “fascinating area of law.” She is equally dedicated to pro bono work and hopes to offer her services to high-need demographics after she passes the Bar.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
Addressing the Barriers to Law School Attendance
Stephanie’s video application addresses more than her interest in Michigan’s affordable housing initiatives. Stephanie takes a candid approach to the realities of law school, emphasizing that students who aren’t prepared for the cost can find themselves blindsided by the financial barriers standing between them and their future careers.
Stephanie reports working multiple jobs and maintaining several side hustles to keep up with the cost of law school, and she’s not alone. Even institutions like Yale Law School acknowledge that students have to pay more than ever to pursue a legal degree.
Yale Law School also notes that students who have financial resources available to them often have an easier time juggling the responsibilities of law school. That’s one of the reasons White Law PLLC debuted this academic scholarship. The team wants to help today’s students pursue their academic ambitions without worrying about the financial obstacles in their way.
Graduating From Law School Takes Grit
There are more barriers standing between the average law student and graduate than their finances. Law school requires students to dedicate time to their studies and the numerous networking opportunities that may help them kickstart their post-graduate careers. Stephanie’s willingness to commit to several jobs on top of these responsibilities sets her apart from the rest.
When asked about the sources of inspiration that keep her going, Stephanie is quick to cite her grandmother’s influence on her life.
“She didn’t have a law degree,” Stephanie says, “but she advocated for the most vulnerable in her community and volunteered her time helping families…I look forward to carrying on her legacy as a lawyer in the affordable housing space.”
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What to Expect From Stephanie in the Future
Stephanie, like many upcoming law school graduates, is in the process of preparing for the July Bar Exam. The Bar Exam takes place over two days and determines whether or not recent graduates have the opportunity to put everything they’ve learned about the law into practice.
Once she has her license to practice, Stephanie intends to pursue a career in affordable housing law, ideally advocating for people who might not be able to advocate for themselves.
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About White Law PLLC’s Paying It Forward Scholarship – How My Degree Will Make a Difference Scholarship
White Law PLLC wants every student interested in a legal career to have the opportunity to go to law school. The team doesn’t believe that financial barriers should keep ambitious students from making their dreams come true. That’s why the firm began offering its Paying It Forward – How My Degree Will Make a Difference Scholarship.
This $2,500 scholarship encourages students to think critically about how their degree will change their lives and the lives of people in their communities. The team hopes that applicants will think critically about the impact they can have on the people and establishments that made it easier for them to achieve their long-term goals.
This scholarship also targets students who might otherwise financially struggle to overcome the financial obstacles standing between them and the degree of their dreams. Students interested in applying for this scholarship ahead of the 2025/2026 academic year can keep an eye out on White Law PLLC’s website for updates on application criteria and submission deadlines.
Congratulations, Stephanie!
White Law PLLC and its team want to once again congratulate Stephanie on the strength of will she’s demonstrated throughout her time in law school. Stephanie’s video essay exhibits her dedication and willingness to throw herself into community advocacy.
We hope this scholarship’s $2,500 award will make Stephanie’s final semester of law school a little less stressful, even as she hunkers down to prepare for the July Bar exam.
Students looking to follow in Stephanie’s footsteps can revisit the Paying It Forward – How My Degree Will Make a Difference Scholarship’s terms and conditions page for more information about the scholarship’s qualifying criteria.
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