Farella Braun + Martel Announces 2004 Diversity Scholarship Recipients

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (May 11, 2004):  Farella Braun + Martel LLP has awarded its 2004 Diversity Scholarships totaling $12,000 to three first-year, full-time students at a number of Bay Area law schools. Each student will receive a $4,000 scholarship.

The awards, announced this week by the firm’s Diversity Task Force, are offered each year to first-year law students from socially and ethnically diverse backgrounds attending the University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall), the University of California, (Hastings), the University of California, Davis (King Hall), Santa Clara University, Golden Gate University, the University of San Francisco or Stanford University.  Scholarships are granted based on a consideration of both need and merit, with preference given to those applicants who demonstrate a commitment to working and living in the Bay Area.

“Farella Braun + Martel continues its commitment to expanding the number of attorneys from minority and underrepresented communities in the practice of law and at our firm,” said William J. Schlinkert, chairman.  “The depth, breadth and talent of the students that apply for this scholarship is astounding and we are delighted to be able to assist the recipients in the pursuit of their legal careers.”

The recipients were selected based on a variety of factors, including academic accomplishments, ability to balance school with other activities, financial need and demonstrated commitment to serving both the legal profession and the community.

The three recipients of the 2004 Farella Braun + Martel Diversity Scholarship are:

Lillian Hardy:

Lillian is a first-year law student at the University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall School of Law), who will be spending the summer working at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights.  Lillian has an outstanding academic record and has been an active public servant, participating in a relief effort in Kenya, assisting in the coordination of a national fundraiser for a breast cancer foundation that raised over $1 million, and serving on a student advisory committee for the ACLU, among other notable achievements. 

Kou Lor:

Kou is a first-year law student at the University of California, Davis (King Hall), who will spend his summer working for the Law Offices of Donald DeShaw in Sacramento.  Kou is a ground breaker in the Hmong community—a very recent immigrant community that is historically anti-assimilationist and has produced very few lawyers in the United States.  In college, Kou volunteered as a translator for Hmong individuals appearing in court. 

Melissa Barthelemy:

Melissa is a first-year law student at Golden Gate University.  She is in the Honors Lawyering Program at Golden Gate.  In the fall, she will participate in an internship at the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, LGBT and HIV Division.  Melissa has an impressive background of extensive involvement in the gay community, as an undergraduate student, in law school, and in between.  She has demonstrated her commitment to civil rights through extensive volunteer work with the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, the California Coalition for Women Prisoners, and other public interest organizations. 

This is the fourth year that Farella Braun + Martel has awarded diversity scholarships to Bay Area law students. The firm’s Diversity Task Force also supports local organizations that address diversity issues, funds minority law student groups, organizes diversity awareness education, and sponsors efforts to increase diversity within the firm.

"In addition to their outstanding academic, extracurricular and personal accomplishments, Lillian, Kou and Melissa have clearly dedicated themselves to the betterment of their communities through public service," said James H. Colopy, who co-chairs the firm's Diversity Task Force with associate Sidney A. Majalya. "We are thrilled to award these well-deserved scholarships as part of our ongoing efforts to promote diversity in our profession."

Since its founding in 1962, Farella Braun + Martel has achieved a national reputation for the acumen of its business practice, the high profile cases of its complex commercial litigation practice and its prestigious client base.  With 120 attorneys in the firm’s San Francisco office, the firm serves a diverse group of clients from multinational corporations to emerging businesses. The firm also has an office in the Napa Valley focused on the wine industry and related businesses.           

Press Contact: 
James Colopy
Co-Chair, Diversity Task Force
415-954-4978

Cheryl Loof
415-954-4433