This most prestigious scholarship was created to give highly qualified aspirants a truly incomparable legal education. John Marshall Scholars receive an annual scholarship for three years of full-time study at the University of Richmond School of Law, providing they remain in the top third of their class at the end of first and second years of study.
John Marshall Scholars are also awarded additional merit aid for three years of full-time study at the School of Law, providing they remain in good academic standing at the end of their first and second years of study.
The John Marshall Scholars participate in the John Marshall Scholars seminar, which is taught by Justice Elizabeth B. Lacy of the Supreme Court of Virginia. The seminar is the only law school course to include students from all three academic years. Justice Lacy uses this opportunity to expose students to legal issues and controversies currently in the news and to introduce the Marshall Scholars to judges, justices, lawyers, and academics who are actively involved in the issues.
When the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist came to the law school, the Marshall Scholars had special opportunities to meet with him. When Justice Anthony Kennedy was the recipient of the John Marshall Foundation Medal in Law, Marshall Scholars were afforded the opportunity to meet and talk with him at a special reception at the home of Chief Justice John Marshall and shared a dinner together afterwards.
Joy Gerdy Zogby, L'10, shared an email she wrote to a prospective John Marshall Scholar:
Q: What has been your experience with the John Marshall Scholars program, and what can I expect in a typical seminar?
Joy's response:
"I cannot recommend the John Marshall Scholars program enough. I hadn't been seriously considering Richmond Law before receiving the scholarship, but the scholarship had me taking a second look at the school. It has been great for me. The money is obviously wonderful, and I am glad to be graduating with about $75,000 less debt than I would be if I had gone to some other schools.
However, what I really love about the program is that we meet each week to have lunch and just learn for the sake of learning. You don't take notes. There is no exam. We do have some reading assignments to prepare for class, but it's not a lot of work. There's no pressure; we just show up and talk. Sometimes Justice Lacy brings in people with non-traditional legal careers to talk about their jobs and how they got them. Other times we talk about the philosophy of law. It varies from class to class, but her goal is to teach us something that we are not otherwise going to learn in our substantive legal classes, and she delivers.
As you may know, the course is taught by a justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia. She has a wealth of connections, and she brings in speakers from all areas of the law. Additionally, the faculty and alumni are absolutely wonderful at helping students find what they are looking for. Our small size definitely helps. For example, I am interested in tax law, and the IRS was coming to interview on campus. I missed the deadline to sign up for an interview, and a member of the Career Services office called me on a Saturday morning to make sure I had seen it. I think it's safe to say that most Career Services officers do not come in on Saturdays to check to see that a specific student was on a list for an interview. That kind of personal attention is quite common here.
The same goes for our faculty. In my last semester, I visited one professor in his office at 10 p.m., and he was happy to sit down with me and answer all of my questions. Our professors are very accessible, and they are always willing to take the time to help you better understand your studies or to help you figure out where you want to go in your career.
It should be clear by now that I had a wonderful time here, and I definitely know that I made the right decision. Of course, you have to determine what the right choice is for you, and I suggest that you visit Richmond Law to see for yourself what sets the school apart. Personal visits are encouraged; you are welcome to sit in on a first-year class, take a tour with a law student, meet professors, and sit down with an Admissions officer - all on your own schedule. Enjoy your visit, and good luck!"
"The value of the John Marshall Scholarship goes far beyond the money, because it really is a whole learning program that provides great practical experiences and connections. Other schools offered tuition assistance, but for me, everything that comes with the John Marshall Scholarship was far more appealing. In less than one semester we've already had the chance to meet many impressive individuals, including the legal counsel for the U.S. Department of State and the President of the AFLCIO. When Justice Scalia visited campus, the John Marshall Scholars were given front row seats at a luncheon talk he gave. Experiences like that are truly invaluable for a law student, which is what sets the John Marshall Scholars program apart from so many other scholarships."
Andrew Fulwider, L'12
"Being a John Marshall Scholar has been extremely rewarding. We have the opportunity to speak with some of the most influential legal figures in the country, and learning firsthand about the practical application of law at the highest levels has been a welcome balance to the everyday coursework of other classes. Also, discussing some of the most controversial issues of the day with Justice Lacy - and then meeting with the players involved - is a unique experience for a law student. I look forward to the seminar every week, and always walk out feeling inspired about the law and the role lawyers can play in our society. As an added bonus, there is a strong alumni network of John Marshall Scholars, and the designation has served as a good conversation point in job interviews."
Isaac McBeth, L'11
"Participating in the John Marshall Scholars program is a truly unique and unparalleled learning experience. Each week consists of a fascinating discussion about a controversial area of the law which is led by one of the finest legal minds in the State. There is nowhere else I could have engaged in the open and free dialogue with the leaders of the legal profession in so close a setting. I am truly thankful for the program and consider myself extremely fortunate to be a part of it."
Law Admissions Office
Mailing Address:
University of Richmond School of Law
28 Westhampton Way
University of Richmond, VA 23173