Diversity Scholarship

At NWOCC, our mission is to empower womxn of color in the legal profession at every stage of their careers. Law school is stressful enough without the added stress of financial aid. Our goal is to support aspiring attorneys who will work toward a more just future and help increase diversity in the legal profession.

We would like to thank everyone who applied for the scholarship in 2023, and congratulate our winners!!

We will post here soon with more information about the 2024 scholarship.

2023 Winners

About Our Winner - Jerusalem Hadush

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"Womxn of color carry the burden of existing in spaces where they are in the minority and are systemically undervalued. Womxn of color have lower retention rates in jobs in-part because of a lack of inclusion and pay equity. Womxn of color experience implicit and explicit bias that is not yet adequately addressed in current DEI programming. The burden is tangible and daily."

Jerusalem  is a proud Black woman, child of immigrants, and first-generation professional. Jerusalem is a current 2L at UC Berkeley. During her time at Berkeley, Jerusalem was a Human Rights Center Scholar, Programming Chair for Berkeley Law Women+ Color Collective, Clinic Counselor for the Workers’ Rights Disability Law Clinic, and 1L Representative for First Generation Professionals.

About Our Runner-Up - Aliana Stanley

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"The most pressing issue for womxn of color in the legal community today is combatting the patriarchal structures within society. Like racism, the United States was founded on patriarchy, with men as the superior gender in every aspect of life (except childcare and household maintenance). The patriarchal structures that I am referring to include, but are not limited to, the wage gap, sexual harassment, microaggressions & derogatory language, and the lack of support for working mothers."

Aliana is a 1L at the Georgia State University College of Law. During her time at GSU, she will pursue her Juris Doctor and Master of Public Administration. In December 2022, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Spelman College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Political Science.

Aliana currently serves as Chief of Staff for HBCU First, a nonprofit on a mission to increase college and career success for Black youth. As a person and professional, she values learning, community, and support.

About Our Winner – Darcy Gallego

“To me, to be a womxn of color means to stand on the shoulders of our ancestors and to be their wildest dreams. It means coming from a lineage of strong womxn who defied the odds and persevered despite obstacles across borders, language, and class. It means to be underestimated by society and at times diminished to fit a certain stereotype, but it means having the resolve to success despite the odds.”

Darcy is a proud first-generation student and daughter of immigrants from Colombia. She graduated from The George Washington University with a Bachelors of Arts in International Affairs in 2018 and is an incoming 1L at Fordham Law School. After college, Darcy worked as an outreach assistant with U.S. Senator Bob Menendez where she managed a portfolio that included immigration, the Latinx community, and healthcare. She currently works as a Senior Legislative and Policy Associate at the Immigration Hub, an immigration policy organization in Washington, DC. Her goal in going to law school is to develop the skills to serve as a well-rounded advocate for immigrant communities. She wants to gain practitioner experience working directly with immigrants and envisions herself returning to advocacy in the future to push for pro-immigrant policies and ultimately to make this country a better place for all regardless of immigration status.

About Our Runner-Up – Simone Edwards​

“Being a womxn of color means experiencing life while navigating stereotypes about who people believe that you are, and finding your own path in a world that does not prioritize your needs. It also means that you have more of an understanding of what it means oppressed, ignored, and suppressed ultimately making you the best person to tackle issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, should you choose to take on that burden. Burdens are simply a party of your experience as a womxn of color, but so is the beauty of having unique identities that allow you to connect with many.”

Simone is a current 2L at Georgetown University Law Center and earned a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Government in 2019 from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She is pursuing a public interest career and has clerked at the Migrant Legal Action Program. She is also the CEO and Founder of the Winter Joy Project, a nonprofit focused on providing winter clothing to children in need.

Simone is an active member of her law school’s WOCC chapter and is passionate about mentorship and being involved with her community. She looks forward to mentoring future WOCC members and hopes to pave the way for others to navigate life as a womxn of color.