Barnes & Thornburg Names Kiara Butler as Chicago Diversity Scholarship Recipient

CHICAGO – Barnes & Thornburg has selected Kiara L. Butler as its 2021 Chicago Diversity Scholarship Award recipient. Butler, a first-year student at the University of Wisconsin Law School, will work as a summer associate in the firm’s Chicago office. 

The scholarship is open to first-year law students with a demonstrated commitment to positive change on the diversity, equity and inclusion front and to contributing meaningfully to the DEI goals of Barnes & Thornburg and the legal profession. 

Butler, who is expected to earn her J.D. in 2023, is involved in a number of law school activities. She is a member of the Indigenous Law Student Association and serves as both a Themis Bar Review representative and a LexisNexis Student Ambassador. 

“I am honored and thrilled to be the recipient of the 2021 Barnes & Thornburg Chicago Diversity Scholarship,” Butler said. “I look forward to spending my summer learning from attorneys who are not only distinguished legal experts, but also are committed to fostering initiatives that support professionals with diverse backgrounds and interests.

Throughout conversations with various attorneys, I’ve felt extremely welcomed by the firm. It’s clear that Barnes & Thornburg is committed to cultivating a work environment that prioritizes growth, community and inclusiveness. I am excited to join my fellow summer associates in Chicago and eagerly await the arrival of summer.”

Butler earned her bachelor’s degree in government from Cornell University. During her undergraduate career, she prioritized community engagement, serving as vice president of programming for College Mentors for Kids and assisted the Center for the Study of Inequality with social science research projects. She also worked for the university’s Public Service Center and was a member of the Zeta Phi Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega. Currently, Butler is a volunteer for the Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network.

“Kiara is an outstanding first-year law student with impressive credentials from outstanding academic institutions,” said Jon Froemel, Chicago law student hiring partner. “Her academics are only surpassed by her creative, confident, and outgoing personality. Her track record of academic success is further supplemented by strong work experience in litigation and family law, and a long history of volunteerism. We are excited to welcome Kiara to Barnes & Thornburg’s summer program.”

With more than 700 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Atlanta, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, New York, Ohio, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, Texas and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter @BTLawNews.