Barnes & Thornburg Announces 2023 Class of Prelaw Scholars

Barnes & Thornburg has selected seven undergraduates to participate in the firm’s 2023 Prelaw Scholars Program, designed to introduce students to the legal profession and assist in their pursuit of a law degree.

In its third year, the Prelaw Scholars Program covers the cost of the students’ Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and the LSAT prep course. After students successfully complete the LSAT, Barnes & Thornburg covers the cost of law school applications and the credential assembly service to help simplify the law school application process.

The program also includes a mentorship component, where each scholar is paired with an attorney mentor who helps guide them through the LSAT prep and law school application and selection process.

The 2023 Prelaw Scholars are:

• Ad’mirel Durden, Washington University in St. Louis

“I am beyond excited and honored to be a Barnes & Thornburg Prelaw Scholar because this program provides immense support throughout the law school admissions process and throughout law school itself,” said Durden, who is expected to graduate in May 2024 with a B.A. in sociology. “When undergoing a process as daunting as law school, it is crucial to have a strong support system, and this provides me with a strong community that will provide me with guidance, which is invaluable as I navigate this process as a first-generation college student and future law student.”

• Elizabeth (Liz) Kufour, University of Texas at Austin

“Being accepted as a Barnes & Thornburg Prelaw Scholar was like discovering a treasure map that leads not only to knowledge but to an attorney mentor who is the compass guiding me through the uncharted waters of law school applications,” said Kufour. “As a first-generation student and future first-generation professional student, having someone by my side who has successfully navigated this journey is like having a personal champion in my corner. The scholarship is a ray of sunshine breaking through clouds of mounting application and testing fees. The relief this support brings is a game-changer, turning a once-daunting obstacle into a stepping stone toward my dream of attending law school. As I set sail on this incredible journey, I can already picture myself on the other side – a bundle of acceptances in hand, all thanks to the incredible opportunities the Barnes & Thornburg Prelaw Scholars Program provided. With the commencement of the 2023-2024 application cycle, I am filled with gratitude, determination, and a heart full of excitement!” Kufour graduated in May 2021 with a B.A. in African & African Diaspora Studies and a B.B.A. in management.

• Katherine Marin, University of Florida

“I am excited to be a Barnes & Thornburg Prelaw Scholar because it will help me pursue my goals of working in public service and giving back to communities in need,” said Marin, who graduated with a B.A. in English literature in May 2023.

• Cassidy Medina, University of Chicago

“I am excited to be a Barnes & Thornburg Prelaw Scholar to foster lifelong friendships and mentorships,” said Medina, who graduated in June 2022 with a B.A. in political science and art history.

• Karla Mora, Tecnológico de Monterrey

“As a first-generation Latina student, it is motivating to know you have amazing attorneys that will support you as you navigate the law school admission process, which can be confusing when you are new to the system,” said Mora, who graduated in 2019 with a B.A. in international relations and is currently an immigration specialist with Barnes & Thornburg. “As part of the Barnes & Thornburg team, I am reassured by the firm’s commitment to support diversity and its impulse to help young professionals from different backgrounds pursue a legal career.”

• Micah Morton-James, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

“I am excited to be a Barnes & Thornburg Prelaw Scholar because I will have expert guidance as I transition into a career in the legal field as a prospective law student,” said Morton-James, who is expected to graduate in 2024 with a B.A. in history. “Additionally, I am excited to be a part of an expanding cohort that will change the makeup of the legal community with the assistance of a trusted firm.”

• Kyra Patterson, Howard University

“I am excited to be a Barnes & Thornburg Prelaw Scholar because I believe this program will provide me with essential tools to successfully navigate the law school admission process and perform well on the LSAT,” said Patterson, who is expected to graduate in May 2024 with a B.A. in political science.

Applicants must meet the following requirements for admission to Barnes & Thornburg’s Prelaw Scholars Program:

• Be a college junior, senior or graduate from an accredited college whose background, experience, personal attributes, and characteristics contribute to Barnes & Thornburg’s diversity, equity and inclusion commitment and goals
• Demonstrate excellent academic and personal achievement
• Be planning to take the LSAT in the next 12 months
• Demonstrate financial need

With more than 800 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, Boston, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, South Florida, Texas, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter @BTLawNews.