Barnes & Thornburg Announces 2017 Indianapolis Diversity Scholarship Recipient

INDIANAPOLIS – Jamal Abdulrasheed, a student at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, has been awarded Barnes & Thornburg's 2017 Indianapolis Diversity Scholarship. This is the fourth year the scholarship has been presented as part of Barnes & Thornburg’s ongoing commitment to diversity.

Abdulrasheed is a first-year law student and is actively involved in the Student Bar Association. He will serve as a summer associate in the firm’s Indianapolis office this summer.

“I am truly honored and humbled to have been selected as the diversity scholar for 2017,” Abdulrasheed said. “Diversity requires agents of change who see the immense value that it brings to the legal practice and I am excited to join a firm that values this idea. I look forward to learning and growing with Barnes & Thornburg this summer.”

Abdulrasheed earned his B.A. in political science from Indianapolis University Purdue University-Indianapolis prior to attending law school. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and was involved in the Norman Brown Diversity & Leadership Scholars program.

“Recruiting top-quality talent of all backgrounds is paramount to Barnes & Thornburg,” said Dawn R. Rosemond, Barnes & Thornburg’s director of diversity, professional development and inclusion. “Building on a foundation of solid academic achievement, Jamal is poised, driven and excited about not just joining the firm, but about joining our great profession. We are so excited about the opportunity to be a part of his story.”

The Diversity Scholarship is open to first-year law students who demonstrate a commitment to contributing meaningfully to the diversity and inclusion goals of Barnes & Thornburg and the legal profession.

“I was honored to offer Jamal the Barnes & Thornburg Diversity Scholarship,” said William E. Padgett, a partner and the Indianapolis office hiring chair. “Jamal is a talented law student who jumped out at us based on his performance at IU-McKinney. We believe he has a great future ahead of him.”

Barnes & Thornburg recognizes that a commitment to diversity requires action. Accordingly, at Barnes & Thornburg, the business of diversity is purposefully aligned with the business of the firm. Through deliberate programming, engaged sponsorship and the continual internal and external investment of time, talent and resources, the firm is committed to building and sustaining an inclusive, respectful and open culture made up of accomplished individuals of all backgrounds.

With more than 600 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from 13 offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Delaware, Indiana, Los Angeles, Michigan, Minneapolis, Ohio, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter @BTLawNews.