Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is pleased to announce the establishment of the Guy N. Halgren Diversity Fellowship for law school students. The fellowship is named in honor of Guy N. Halgren, chairman emeritus, who served as Sheppard Mullin’s chairman for 20 years, from 2001 to 2021, for his longstanding commitment to creating a firm culture that values and celebrates diversity and inclusion.
“We are excited to launch the Guy N. Halgren Diversity Fellowship as part of our intentional, long-term commitment to greater diversity in the legal industry. We are proud to offer opportunities to talented law students and future attorneys who have demonstrated resiliency and grit, and will contribute to the richness and excellence of our firm,” said Lois Durant, Sheppard Mullin’s Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. “Guy is a champion for diversity, having led the firm’s diversity and inclusion program for two decades. Naming this fellowship in his honor is a tribute to his sustained commitment and efforts that have helped establish Sheppard Mullin as an industry leader.”
“I am so incredibly humbled and honored to have this Fellowship named for me,” added Halgren. “Law students are the future of our profession and it is critically important that we proactively help promising students and champion the next generation of great lawyers. Inclusion is the foundation for creating a strong and successful organization, and I am proud of the progress Sheppard Mullin has made to weave inclusion into the fabric of our culture. I feel so fortunate to have for 20 years led a firm that wholeheartedly supported and embraced my passion. There remains much more we can do – within our firm, within the profession and in our society. This Fellowship program is a tangible boost, three students at a time.”
Every year, Sheppard Mullin will select three qualified first-year law school students and award each a $35,000 scholarship to be paid in three installments over the course of their law school education. The first two payments are made upon conclusion of the recipient's successful participation in the firm’s summer associate program, after their first and second years of law school. The final installment is paid upon graduation and acceptance of a full-time associate position at Sheppard Mullin. The inaugural fellowship class will coincide with the firm’s 2023 Summer Associate Program. Each recipient will join the firm as a summer associate and will be paired with a mentor, who will provide professional and career guidance during the 10-week summer program. The fellowship is open to first-year students who are enrolled full-time and in good standing at ABA-accredited law schools and demonstrate a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion through their activities, background and life experiences. Potential recipients of the fellowship must also demonstrate significant financial need and to have overcome considerable obstacles to reach law school, such as socio-economic disadvantage, disability, being the first in their family to attend college, attending under-resourced schools, or other considerable hardships and challenges.
This fellowship is one of many programs that promote diversity at Sheppard Mullin and in the legal profession. Over the last several years, Sheppard Mullin has earned numerous awards for its D&I initiatives, including Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s prestigious Thomas Sager Award.