Two Top Law Firms Support Scholarship Program

San Francisco — April 21, 2009 — The California Bar Foundation today announced the awarding of 17 scholarships to assist aspiring public interest lawyers from California law schools with the costs associated with taking the California Bar Exam. Two of the top awards are named after law firms - Reed Smith LLP and The Sidley Austin Foundation — that have made multi-year commitments to the Rosenthal Bar Exam Scholarship Program.

The Rosenthal Bar Exam Scholarship is one of the few scholarship programs in the country specifically aimed at providing Bar exam-related support for aspiring public interest lawyers, who often graduate from law school with upwards of $100,000 in student loans. Because these graduates lack the financial support of a private law firm employer, the cost of taking the exam, enrolling in a bar review course, and covering their living expenses while studying for the exam can add thousands of dollars to their debt burden.

"Despite the challenges of the economy, we believe it is still important to support programs like the California Bar Foundation's Bar Exam Scholarship, as well as outstanding law school graduates who intend to give back to their communities," said Theodore T. Ting, a partner at Reed Smith and a member of the Foundation's Board of Directors. "In fact, the need for public interest lawyers may be even greater now, and our support of the Reed Smith Scholar demonstrates our commitment to full and equal access to the justice system for all Californians."

This year, the Foundation is distributing Bar Exam Scholarships to 17 students from 12 California law schools. Nominated by their law schools, the recipients demonstrate a commitment to public service, academic excellence, and financial need. With the support of Reed Smith and Sidley, the Foundation is awarding the recipients $2,000 scholarships — a doubling of last year's award — to assist with the costs of taking the California Bar Exam. The top five recipients also receive California BAR/BRI Law Review Bar Exam review courses valued at more than $3,000 each.

"The tightening of the credit market has made it increasingly difficult for law students to obtain loans from private lenders to help cover costs associated with taking the Bar exam. The challenge is particularly acute for students planning to pursue historically low-paying public interest careers, and that is a critical reason why we increased the size of our Bar Exam Scholarship awards this year," said Mario Camara, the Foundation's President. "The Rosenthal Bar Exam Scholarship Program is a long-term investment in the legal profession that will benefit the justice system for years to come."

"By supporting the California Bar Foundation's Bar Exam Scholarship, we are helping the next generation of public interest lawyers," said Anne E. Rea, a member of Sidley Austin LLP's Management Committee. "With their energy and commitment to serving all Californians, these impressive graduating law students — who aspire to represent immigrants, fight for human rights in the international criminal justice system, advocate for the homeless, and support victims of sexual assault — represent the legal profession at its best. Our firm is proud to be a part of this important program."

The Foundation launched the Rosenthal Bar Exam Scholarship in 1997 in memory of Imelda Rosenthal, a Guatemalan immigrant, small businesswoman, and tireless community volunteer. Foundation Past President Herb Rosenthal and his wife, Margarita, continue to support the program with a generous annual contribution. In addition, for the past four years, BAR/BRI of California has provided the Foundation with discounted bar review courses for the top winners. Since 1997, the Foundation has awarded nearly $170,000 in cash awards and bar review courses to more than 215 graduates of California law schools.

The complete list of 2009 Rosenthal Bar Exam Scholarship winners, by law school, is as follows:

Golden Gate University School of Law
Steffanie Bevington

Loyola Law School
Neda Mashayekhi

Pepperdine University School of Law
Jacqueline Bosworth

San Joaquin College of Law
Alicia Lyn Hinton

Santa Clara University School of Law
Molly Brennan

Stanford Law School
Tamika L. Butler
Emily Maglio — Reed Smith Scholar

UC Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall)
Rana Anabtawi
Lynn Wu

UCLA School of Law
Moises Ceja

University of Southern California Gould School of Law
Carlos Gomez
Sara Van Hofwegen — The Sidley Austin Foundation Scholar

University of San Diego School of Law
Jacqueline Isaac
Lisa Rose Storing

University of San Francisco School of Law
Meredith E. Marzuoli
Marie Montesano

Whittier Law School
Geneva Englebrecht

About the California Bar Foundation
The California Bar Foundation is committed to building a better justice system for all Californians. We champion full and equal access to the justice system, invest in the next generation of California's lawyers, educate Californians about their rights and responsibilities under the law, and promote philanthropy throughout the legal community. A nonprofit founded in 1990 and affiliated with the State Bar of California, the Foundation annually awards grants to California organizations conducting innovative law-related projects and scholarships to outstanding California law students.

Media Contact:
Leslie Hatamiya
Executive Director
(415) 856-0780 ext. 303
lhatamiya@calbarfoundation.org