Hunton Andrews Kurth Announces HuntonAK Pathfinders Scholarship Program

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP is proud to announce the establishment of the HuntonAK Pathfinders Scholarship Program. The 10-week, paid Summer Clerkship for 2L students aims to attract outstanding first-generation law students to the private practice of law while helping these students be successful in law school through both work and mentorship experiences afforded by the program.

“Hunton Andrews Kurth is committed to making our profession more accessible to talented law students who have already demonstrated great determination by climbing the first rung of the educational mobility ladder,” said managing partner Wally Martinez. “This scholarship, strictly for first-generation students, is one of the first of its kind and we are honored to help lead the way with this effort.”

The HuntonAK Pathfinders Scholarship stemmed from a winning submission at the firm’s annual “Hackathon” or brain-storming competition where summer associates were challenged to create strategies to enhance diversity and inclusion in the legal industry. The result was the development of the  firm’s First-Generation Pathways program, a pilot program aimed at providing mentoring to first generation law students. The program consisted of a series of conversations between lawyers at the firm and first-generation law students at schools located near the Miami office.

“Our Pathways pilot program has proven to be a great success and resulted in lively, positive conversations and mentorship opportunities with first-generation law students. It was only natural to expand our focus on first-generation students with the HuntonAK Pathfinders Scholarship Program,” added Rudene Haynes, firm-wide hiring partner. 

Students who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply for the HuntonAK Pathfinders Scholarship opportunity:

• Currently enrolled as a second-year law student in good standing at an ABA-accredited law school

• Top 33% of Law School Class
• First-generation Law Student (defined as a first person in your immediate family to receive postsecondary education)
• Legally eligible to work in the United States

Students interested in applying to the program are required to submit a statement, which explains their first-generation law student experience and what motivated them to consider law as a profession, along with their application materials. Applications will be accepted through July 15, 2022 for the program which will begin the summer of 2023. Recipients will be awarded with the 10-week Summer Clerkship and will be awarded a $25,000 scholarship payable in three installments after acceptance of the 2L Offer, after acceptance of the entry level offer and upon joining the firm full-time.

Click here for more information about the HuntonAK Pathfinders Scholarship Program.