International law firm Perkins Coie LLP has committed $300,000 to the North Carolina Central University (NCCU) School of Law to establish the Perkins Coie Technology Law Scholarship Program.
The firm created the scholarship program, which will provide funding for NCCU law students over the next two academic years, to advance its commitment to enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging within the legal industry and profession.
“This new scholarship at NCCU School of Law represents an opportunity to help historically underrepresented students who are interested in pursuing careers in the legal industry,” said Genhi Givings Bailey, Perkins Coie’s chief diversity and inclusion officer. “We are committed and remain steadfast in seeking to improve diversity across our firm and within the legal industry.”
The Perkins Coie Technology Law Scholarship Program will help provide financial assistance to cover tuition and fees for at least five second- or third-year NCCU law students who have demonstrated an interest in technology. The scholarship amount will range from $5,000 to $20,000 per student per academic year. The first scholarship recipients will be selected by the end of summer 2023.
“I commend and thank Perkins Coie for the firm’s generosity and visionary leadership in technology law, a growing and significant practice area,” said Patricia Timmons-Goodson, dean of the NCCU School of Law. “The creation of the Perkins Coie Technology Law Scholarship at North Carolina Central University School of Law will over time strengthen and diversify the legal profession. In the near term, this scholarship will help us deliver on ‘The Eagle Promise,’ our commitment to successful outcomes for our students.”
To be eligible to apply for the Perkins Coie Technology Law Scholarship, students must be enrolled full-time at the NCCU School of Law with an anticipated graduation date of 2024 or 2025 at the time of application; be in good academic standing with at least a cumulative 2.8 GPA; and have a demonstrated interest in technology law or intellectual property law, with a preference for students earning the university’s Law & Technology Certificate.
“Perkins Coie represents clients who are developing cutting-edge technologies that will shape our lives in the decades to come,” said Chris Hanewicz, co-chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group. “To stay competitive and to be able to collaborate effectively with our clients, it’s critical to build a diverse and inclusive pipeline of students with a passion for technology.”
