Crowell & Moring Awards $25,000 in Second Annual Diversity in the Legal Profession Scholarship Program

Washington, D.C. – February 16, 2007: Crowell & Moring LLP will present $25,000 in scholarship awards to three Washington, D.C. law school students at a reception at its Washington offices on February 21. The event will feature Minority Corporate Counsel Association Executive Director Veta T. Richardson as the keynote speaker. The firm’s second annual Diversity in the Legal Profession Scholarship Program consists of three monetary awards, one at $10,000 and two at $7,500, which are given to deserving racially and ethnically diverse students currently pursuing a law degree at an accredited law school in the District of Columbia.

Kent A. Gardiner, Crowell & Moring chairman, said, “We are proud to support the education of these students because we believe that promoting a legal community that is both diverse and successful is a fundamental responsibility of, and a privilege for, our firm. Diversity in the legal field is one of the core values of Crowell & Moring. We are aiming to broaden the community of future leaders of our profession.”
Monica G. Parham, Crowell & Moring’s diversity counsel, directed the firm’s scholarship program. “The selection process afforded us the opportunity to meet with so many diverse students who are looking forward to practicing in every area of law – from corporate to criminal prosecution. It was an informative process, as we were reminded of the many obstacles that today’s law students must still overcome to pursue their legal careers. It was also an encouraging process, as we confirmed that the next generation of lawyers who will lead our community is bright, committed, and incredibly capable of overcoming any of the obstacles in their paths.”

This year’s recipients are:

• Adrienne J. Lawrence ($10,000) - Lawrence, who completed her undergraduate studies on an accelerated schedule at the age of 19, has enjoyed a range of professional experience as an informal legal counselor for domestic violence victims and paralegal specialist for the Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York. Lawrence is a second-year student at The George Washington University Law School, where she is president of the Criminal Law Society and a member of the Black Law Students Association and the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. She holds a Master of Arts from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Science from California State University in Sacramento.
• Evandro C. Carvalho ($7,500) – Overcoming tremendous odds, Carvalho immigrated to the U.S. from Cape Verde when he was 15 years old. At the time, he spoke no English. Yet within only a few years, he graduated fifth in his high school class of 400. Carvalho is now a second-year student at Howard University School of Law, where he has worked with other students to publish the upcoming Howard Journal of Africana Jurisprudence and Social Issues, which will focus on sustainable development, disease, and other issues affecting the continent. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and has served as a judicial intern for The Honorable Judd J. Carhart of the Hampden and Hampshire Superior Court. He has also served as a youth advocate for the Old Colony YMCA in Brockton, MA.
• Michelle Thomas ($7,500) – Thomas is a second year student at Howard University School of Law, where she is a Merit Scholarship recipient. She holds a Masters of Business Administration from University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Science from California State University, Fresno. She serves as a member of the Howard Law Journal, a fellow in the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, and a member of the National Black Law Students Association. Among Thomas’ significant accomplishments is the founding of Infusion, a non-profit organization designed to revitalize minority communities through education, economic development, and community empowerment.
  

First awarded in 2005, Crowell & Moring’s Diversity in the Legal Profession Scholarship Program aims to promote greater diversity within the legal profession. The firm’s goal is to enhance opportunities for diverse lawyers, particularly from underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities, to achieve long-term success in a competitive legal marketplace. 

Crowell & Moring LLP is a full-service law firm with nearly 350 lawyers practicing in litigation, antitrust, government contracts, corporate, intellectual property and more than 40 other practice areas. More than two-thirds of the firm's lawyers regularly litigate disputes on behalf of domestic and international corporations, start-up businesses, and individuals. Crowell & Moring's extensive client work ranges from advising on one of the world's largest telecommunications mergers to representing governments and corporations on international arbitration matters. Based in Washington, D.C., the firm also has offices in California, New York, London, and Brussels.