For DonorsFor Applicants

Phillip Robinson Memorial Scholarship

Funded by
$7,000
1 winner$7,000
Open
Application Deadline
Mar 1, 2025
Winners Announced
Apr 1, 2025
Education Level
Undergraduate, Graduate
Eligibility Requirements
Education Level:
Undergraduate or graduate student, currently in law school or actively applying
Background:
Low-income

Laws shape the way our world works and the next generation of attorneys will determine what our future looks like.

Unfortunately, law school is an expensive investment that offers limited opportunities for financial aid. Additionally, the rigorous nature of the curriculum makes it difficult for many law students to work while in school, making the financial burden even more significant.

This scholarship seeks to honor the memory of Phillip Robinson by supporting law students who have financial need as they pursue their education.

Any low-income undergraduate or graduate student who is currently enrolled in law school or is actively applying to law school may apply for this scholarship.

To apply, tell us why you want to practice law.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Drive, Passion
Published August 1, 2024
Essay Topic

Why do you want to practice law?

400–600 words

Winners and Finalists

May 2024

Finalists
Alex Harris
Valeria Navarro
Ciandramarie Choun
Dylan Simms
Astrid Obadia
Temilola Blessing Akinsilo
Sylvia Rossing
Ashley Ram
Brianna Adams
Julia Baroi
Pauline Barosy
Timothy Gaull
Elizabeth Kameen
Sabrina Possia
Hayley Siegel
Jason Futrell
Jared Villery
Alexis Chandler
Tyisha Morris
Isaiah Burroughs
Jessica Villalobos-Martinez
Jessica Moore
Adrianna Roth
Nicole Fordey
Mohsen Khaial
Orbelin Pineda Espino
Marina Siretskiy
McKenzie Parker
makai bradfield
Kimo Tuivaiti
Yara Chabchoul
Natalie Tutor
Richard Shelley
Jack Love
Anais Minks
Quynh Mai
Kaylee Vitato
Isabel Biasella
Destiny Nwaobilor
Tyreeana Epps
Alexiah Azad
Amy Uribe-Rangel
malachi david
Janaisa Wallace
Joy Aikens
Marley Todd
Amirah Cochran
Joys Igban
Shirley Nichols
Hector Larson
Liza Tsertsvadze
darwynn walking eagle
Judy Akid
Freda Doni
Courtney Snyder
Theresa Kay
Lanna Androus
Dayana Perez
Astrid Hernandez
Ashley Larsen
Yamileth Palacios Piedra

Winning Application

Kaneesha Wilson
University of North TexasDenton, TX
As a recovered addict and alcoholic, I have had many run-ins with the criminal justice system back when I was using and wrecking my life. You might assume at this statement, that I would naturally be negatively biased towards criminal justice as an institution. But that's where the miracle happened for me. Each time I was arrested, my self-worth was destroyed. Incarceration changes you, and hardens you. But then a ray of sunshine in the form of my criminal defense attorney came to visit me in jail. He treated me like the human being I no longer felt I deserved to be. He gave me hope and became my advocate in several charges when I had felt so lost and alone facing what I had done. In each of my dozen arrests, there was one thing in common. Each time, no matter how out of control I had become, officers, paramedics, hospital staff dealing with my overdoses, and professionals showed me compassion when I didn't deserve it. My mind began to change and open up, and I realized that these people who step in to advocate for those who are lost in the criminal justice process play a huge part in reminding the accused of their humanity. I knew I needed to become a part of this system, to take my own experiences and struggles and use them for good. I must become an advocate for someone facing criminal charges who feels lost and alone. I will pursue my dream of becoming a criminal defense attorney and I will find a way to give a voice to those who have lost their own. My specific goal includes finding programs and pro-bono work that allows me to work with drug addicts and alcoholics, give back to the system that gave me back myself, and set me on a path to sobriety. My experiences, my tattoos, and my heart will reach those who believe nobody could understand. I will reach those who are lost, and change the stigma around the criminal justice system. I will work towards reform and rehabilitative goals of deterrence and find a way when all seems lost. I plan on bringing hope and attention to those affected by addiction and seek new and innovative ways of resolving criminal charges in rehabilitative ways that effectively give my future clients hope. Addiction is a disease of the brain, and the justice system could use more attention to how we handle drug-related offenses. Maybe one day, restorative methods built to help instead of hurt so that future crimes involving drugs are no longer a statistic or an expectation.

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Mar 1, 2025. Winners will be announced on Apr 1, 2025.