TRAM Themis Scholarship

Funded by

Anonymous

Eligibility Requirements

Education Level:

Law student (graduate)

GPA:

3.0 GPA or higher

Background:

Demonstrated leadership, history of community service or volunteer work, and history of social justice advocacy

Financial Status:

Demonstrated financial need

Education Level:

GPA:

Background:

Financial Status:

Law student (graduate)

3.0 GPA or higher

Demonstrated leadership, history of community service or volunteer work, and history of social justice advocacy

Demonstrated financial need

The legal field holds incredible power, with lawyers making a direct impact on the lives of their clients each day.

Social justice lawyers, in particular, are crucial in addressing the many forms of discrimination and wrongdoing that occur in our world, providing a voice for the vulnerable and using their skills to wield the power of the law for the benefit of the underserved.

This scholarship aims to support future social justice attorneys so they can complete their educational journeys and succeed in their careers.

Any law student at an accredited law school who has at least a 3.0 GPA and financial need may apply for this scholarship opportunity if they show leadership experience, a history of community service or volunteer work, and a history of social justice advocacy. Applicants with a demonstrated dedication to DEI are preferred.

To apply, tell us what social justice issue you plan to address through your legal career and why this cause is important to you.

Selection Criteria:

Ambition, Drive, Impact

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Published April 10, 2025

Essay Topic

What social justice issue or cause do you plan to use your law degree to improve or address, in what capacity, and why?

400–600 words

Winners and Finalists

August 2025

Winners

Jamie Shaffer

West Virginia University

Kingwood, WV

Finalists

Madison Wong

University of California-Berkeley

Fremont, CA

Isabella Blanco

University of California-Hastings College of Law

San Francisco, CA

Grant Ashley

University of California-Irvine

Moreno Valley, CA

Winning Application

Jamie Shaffer

West Virginia UniversityKingwood, WV

I plan on using my law degree to address one major issue: violence against women and children. These issue presses on my conscience greatly and impacts many communities across the country and the globe. In my state, domestic and family violence are unfortunately common place, but by working with the Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center (RDVIC) and a local attorney who focuses on these issues, I have been able to help women and their families navigate the process of getting out of abusive situations and find safe, healthy places to recover and raise their families. I plan on using my law degree to help expand organizations like RDVIC and improve access to resources such as these to rural areas that are heavily impacted by domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual abuse. These issues are widely spread, yet rarely talked about in the public sphere. Many women and children suffer violence at the hands of family members but lack the resources and support to adequately protect themselves. These individuals need more concerned attorneys to bring attention to their struggles and offer a lending hand. I plan on representing indigent families pro bono in protection order hearings, divorces, and when submitting parenting plans while providing them with emotional support and referring them to organizations that can assist with housing and financial security. On a larger scale, I hope to carry on the work that my mentor and RDVIC have started in my state by petitioning for the laws to have stricter punishments regarding domestic violence and for the law to provide greater safeguards to victims and their families while they are getting out of an abusive or dangerous situation. Too many lives have been lost and too many children harmed while victims are trying to protect themselves. The laws in my state fail to adequately protect victims and ensure their safety during this critical time. I wish to help victims of domestic violence with my law degree because I myself am victim of domestic violence, both as a child witness and as an adult. My experience has opened my eyes to how wide spread domestic violence is and how normalized it seems to be. Even though the majority of my community have experienced domestic violence, it is still taboo to talk to someone else to ask for help and protect yourself. This cannot continue in our society. We need greater protections and support systems for victims of domestic violence. I hope to be part of the change to make communities safer for women and children with my law degree.