Three students at the University of Texas School of Law have been selected to receive Baron & Budd Public Interest Scholarships for the 2010–2011 academic year. Students who receive the $4,500 scholarships commit to working three hundred pro bono hours during the school year with a nonprofit organization providing legal services to underserved individuals or communities.
The scholarships are made possible by a generous gift from the Baron & Budd law firm. They are administered by the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law at the Law School.
“We are proud to support these students as they increase access to justice for individuals in our community,” said Eden Harrington, director of the Justice Center. “The generous support from Baron & Budd gives our students the chance to gain valuable experience while providing much-needed legal assistance. The Law School is very grateful for the firm’s support.”
Recipients of the 2010–2011 Baron & Budd Public Interest Scholarships are, left to right, Jessica Cohen, '11; Christine Nishimura, '12; and Claire Rodriguez, '11.
The following students will receive 2010–2011 Baron & Budd Public Interest Scholarships:
Jessica Cohen, ’11, will work for the ACLU of Texas investigating civil liberties claims of LGBT clients. She will continue working on a project she began over the summer.
Christine Nishimura, ’12, will continue work she began last summer for Advocacy, Inc., helping to represent foster children in the Texas Youth Commission and State Supported Living Center systems.
Claire Rodriguez, ’11, will work for the Equal Justice Center to create a set of materials to educate non-citizen clients and their employers about the tax implications of settlement. Last summer she worked with UNITE HERE Local 11 in Los Angeles.
About Baron & Budd:
Baron & Budd PC is one of the largest plaintiffs’ firms in the country representing people exposed to toxic substances in their work and living environments. The firm established the Baron & Budd Public Interest Scholarships at the Law School to support students engaged in pro bono work.
About the Justice Center:
The Justice Center is dedicated to promoting equal justice for all through legal education. The Justice Center works toward this goal by educating students, faculty, and attorneys about public interest legal issues; teaching students about the need to increase access to justice; creating pro bono opportunities for the law school community; providing support to students and graduates engaged in public service; and conducting research into legal issues affecting underserved individuals and communities.
Contact: Eden Harrington, director of the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law, UT Law, 512-232-7068, eharrington@law.utexas.edu.