California Lawyers Foundation (CLF) is proud to announce it has awarded 12 scholarships to high school, undergraduate, and law school students throughout the state who have demonstrated a significant interest in civics engagement and making an impact on the future of California’s judicial system. Totaling $50,000, these unique scholarships are funded by generous individuals who want to provide an educational pathway for students from diverse backgrounds who hope to have careers in the legal field.
CLF is the charitable arm of California Lawyers Association (CLA). More than 100 students applied to the inaugural scholarship programs from every region of the state, a powerful indication about the interest young people have in propelling the future of the law forward.
“Our mission is to help educate students about opportunities in law,” says CLF President Jeremy M. Evans. “We want to share our long-term commitment to help students navigate a process that takes them from high school, and through their undergraduate and graduate school education, so they may pursue careers in California’s justice system.”
University of San Francisco School of Law first year student, Gabriel Cortez, is one of eight recipients of CLF’s $5,000 Justice Pathways Scholarships. He says that law first appealed to him as, “a calling,” when he joined his high school’s mock trial team and discovered his passion for the country’s legal system and its capacity to pursue justice. He is a first generation college graduate, earning his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State University, Long Beach.
“It was during my undergraduate studies that I became especially drawn to defense work, advocating for individuals who cannot properly defend themselves, and upholding the rule of law by holding the system accountable to its promise of fairness,” says Cortez. “As a first-generation college graduate that has struggled financially throughout college, thank you to the California Lawyers Foundation for this incredible opportunity and for supporting my educational pathway.”
Applicants had to meet several criteria to be considered. Grades, volunteer and work histories, and connection to their communities were important factors. Students wrote essays about how their experiences and optimism can help equalize the role of the rule of law and the judicial branch for future generations.
Rising second year law student at the Santa Clara University School of Law, Amanda Fabbri, earned undergraduate degrees in Criminal Justice and Political Science at San Diego State University. She currently serves as a Law Clerk in the Juvenile and Felony Trial Team Unit at the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office where she says she has gained invaluable exposure to both the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems, while supporting herself. “I appreciate the California Lawyers Foundation’s recognition of my dedication to public service and I look forward to giving back to the profession and my community,” Fabbri shares.
Nikky Barron, an incoming freshman at Contra Costa College, is one of three students honored with CLF’s Future Jurist Scholarship. Barron began her journey toward a future legal career at Richmond High School as a participant in the California Legal Pathways Collaborative (CLPC) Law Academy initiative.
“Witnessing injustices only fuels my desire to become a legal advocate. I want to be someone who helps others navigate and challenge the legal system when it fails to protect them,” explains Barron. “I’ve seen, through my Law Academy experiences, that a legal career can be a powerful tool for change, and I want to use it to make a difference.”
Supported by CLF, CLPC brings education about government and the law to high school classrooms in California through 24 law academies. The three-year program begins during a student’s sophomore year, with instruction provided by judges, lawyers, and legal experts. Participants are given special opportunities to meet with legislators, hear court cases, attend symposiums, and experience firsthand an array of legal career opportunities. Over 3,000 students participate each year in the academies across California, with 100% of participants entering college following their high school graduation.
CLPC participant, and Deer Valley High School student, Natalie Hill, was selected for the CLPC Scholarship. “Ever since I began middle school, I have wanted to be a judge. I didn’t exactly know what this meant. I was just enticed by the confidence they all had and the fancy outfits they all wore. But, when I got to high school, the real picture of the law began to piece together in my mind. I began to realize that being a lawyer is about so much more than money or suits. It is about fighting for justice, for what is right, time and time again, says Hill. “My goal is to obtain the best education at a four-year university before
moving on to law school. After that, I want to become a lawyer, then a District Attorney, and ultimately a judge. This scholarship will bring me one step closer to achieving my dreams and amending the legal system.”
Several scholarship recipients will attend CLA’s 2025 Sneaker Ball on September 13th. The entertaining and meaningful evening is a celebration following CLA’s 2025 Annual Meeting at the Sheraton Universal Hotel, in Universal City near Los Angeles. The event honors CLA outgoing leaders and features a swearing in ceremony for the organization’s new Executive Committee members, led by California Supreme Court Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero. The Sneaker Ball also serves as an important fundraising opportunity for CLF. Event organizers hope to raise $10,000 which will go directly to future student scholarships.
“Every person applying for one of our scholarships was incredibly deserving. Their stories of perseverance, facing challenges, and wanting to impact change are inspiring,” explains CLF Deputy Director Janett Cabanero. “Some of the applicants will be the first in their families to complete high school and most are the first in their families to go to college. The decisions were difficult. Our hope is to be able to one day offer scholarships to every single student who applies.”
In addition to the first-of-its-kind CLPC law academy programs, CLF is involved in a number of opportunities directed toward students. For example, a Legislative Day offers high school students a chance to visit the California Capitol, hearing from legal leaders and participating in interactive events. CLF also helped host a legal symposium this past June to bring together CLPC law academy partners across the state inspired by the American Bar Association’s Law Day theme, “E Pluribus Unum… Out of Many, One,” in celebration of the collective effort to support students navigating the law platform. CLF’s Billable Hour campaign encourages legal professionals to donate the equivalent of one billable hour to be used for scholarships.
“Successes like this are only possible with the generous support of donors and sponsors,” Evans points out. “It is one thing to tell a student, ‘You should be an attorney,’ but it is another to navigate the lengthy and expensive process. When students have financial, educational, and career guidance, the possibilities are limitless. CLF is incredibly grateful to our benefactors.”
CLF congratulates the following scholarship recipients:
Justice Pathways Scholarship:
- Daphne Arellano – University of San Diego School of Law
- Jordan Brown – University of California, Davis School of Law
- Gabriel Cortez – University of San Francisco School of Law
- Amanda Fabbri – Santa Clara University School of Law
- Katherine Andrea Marin – University of California, Berkeley School of Law
- Sharon Amisadai Valle Rodriguez – University of California, Los Angeles School of Law
- Isaiah Uson – University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
- Mackayla Wall – California Western School of Law
Future Jurist Scholarship:
- Nikky Barron – Contra Costa College
- Mahak Rathi – University of California, Berkeley
- Amelia Solis – California State University, Sacramento
- California Legal Pathways Collaborative High School Scholarship:
- Natalie Hill – Deer Valley High School, Antioch, California
There are numerous ways to support CLF and its programs. To learn more, please visit: https://calawyersfoundation.org/