CHICAGO – First-year law student Aubrielle Smoot is the 2022 recipient of Barnes & Thornburg’s annual 1L Diversity Scholarship. Smoot, who attends the University of Chicago Law School, will be a 2022 summer associate in the firm’s Chicago office.
“I am grateful and excited to be the recipient of the 2022 Barnes & Thornburg Chicago Diversity Scholarship. I am looking forward to working with and being mentored by distinguished legal professionals,” Smoot said. “Everyone at Barnes & Thornburg has welcomed me with open arms and expressed a genuine interest in my growth and professional development. It is refreshing to join a firm that prioritizes initiatives and fosters a culture that supports diverse individuals from all walks of life. I cannot wait to become part of this amazing firm and join my fellow summer associates.”
Smoot is active in her law school, serving as a programming committee member of the Doctoroff Business Leadership program, Law Women’s Caucus representative, and UChicago Careers in Law mentor. She also is a member of the First Generation Professionals and Law and Business Society.
Smoot served in various leadership roles within Chi Omega fraternity while studying at the University of South Florida, including serving as president and recruitment chair.
“Abby is an outstanding first-year law student with impressive academic credentials and a strong work background in the compliance and legal departments of a large financial institution,” said Jonathan P. Froemel, hiring partner in Chicago. “Her strengths in academic and work areas are supplemented by her strong networking skills, as well as her experiences as a first-generation college and law student. We are thrilled to welcome Abby to Barnes & Thornburg’s summer program.”
The scholarship is open to first-year law students with a demonstrated commitment to positive change on the diversity, inclusion and equity (DEI) front and to contributing meaningfully to the DEI goals of Barnes & Thornburg and the legal profession.
“We are excited to present Abby with this 1L Diversity Scholarship because her experience and spirit typify why this scholarship exists. We look forward to working with her and exposing her to additional experiences that can guide her legal career,” said Dawn R. Rosemond, the firm’s diversity partner.
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, Boston, 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.
