In keeping with Dean S. James Anaya鈥檚 strategic priority to make law school more financially accessible and develop leaders who reflect and understand the complex and diverse perspectives of today鈥檚 society, the University of Colorado Law School has unveiled its new Leaders in Law and Community (LILAC) fellowship program. The program addresses diversity in the broadest sense by recruiting and developing law students from backgrounds underrepresented in legal education and in the legal profession.
鈥淟aw is one of the nation鈥檚 least diverse professions, and in order to solve the complex issues presented by the law today, we need lawyers with a diverse range of experiences and viewpoints,鈥� said Dean Anaya. 鈥淎s the only public law school in Colorado, it is our duty to recruit and develop students from all backgrounds, including those who are underrepresented in law schools and in the legal profession.鈥�
The six inaugural LILAC fellows join Colorado Law from California, Florida, Indiana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Texas. They represent a range of ethnicities, backgrounds, and experiences, and were selected in part for demonstrating indicators of success such as community leadership, perseverance, and ability to problem solve and think critically.
鈥淟ILAC fellows are from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, have diverse cultural identities, or have overcome significant obstacles. With their experiences, backgrounds, and accomplishments, these students have the potential to use their law degrees to be transformational leaders in law and the community,鈥� Dean Anaya said.
Throughout their three years in law school, LILAC fellows receive:
- full scholarships,
- intensive second-year seminars focused on legal solutions to social and community challenges,
- financial support for public service work or faculty research assistant positions after a student鈥檚 first year,
- opportunities for community engagement connecting fellows to Colorado Law alumni and friends,
- mentorship pairing with leaders across the legal profession, including business, government, and nonprofit sectors,
- public service projects to drive change in local and global communities,
- travel opportunities associated with externships, conferences, and programming that complement the classroom experience, and
- academic support to help fellows thrive in the classroom.
Learn more about LILAC at colorado.edu/law/LILAC.
Pictured (L-R): LILAC fellows Riley Gonya, Ciera Gonzalez, Rodrigo Lugo, Danielle S. Johnson, Leanna Gavin, and Chase Johnson