John Marshall Scholars Program

This most prestigious scholarship was created to give highly qualified aspirants a truly incomparable legal education. In addition to receiving a substantial scholarship, the John Marshall includes a unique programmatic component. There are opportunities for John Marshall Scholars to meet with and be mentored by lawyers and judges in the region, and participants are invited to the faculty colloquy speaker series where cutting edge legal issues are explored in depth with some of the leading scholars in the nation. In addition, there are opportunities for special visits to courts and government offices as well as the opportunity to meet in a small group with some of our distinguished visitors to campus. In prior years, the John Marshall Scholars have met privately with Supreme Court Justices, including Stephen Breyer, Anthony Kennedy, and Chief Justice William Rehnquist, prominent government official such as Harold Koh, the former dean of Yale Law School and Legal Advisor to the Department of State and Jeff Lacker, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and numerous other prominent lawyers.

Joy Gerdy Zogby, L'10, shared an e-mail she wrote to a prospective John Marshall Scholar:

Q: What has been your experience with the John Marshall Scholars program?

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 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, 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, but her goal is to teach us something that we are not otherwise going to learn in our substantive legal classes, and she delivers.

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!"

John Marshall Scholars

Kati Kitts, L'13

"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. 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. The program 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

GPS Location:
37.579172, -77.536167

Phone: (804) 289-8189
Fax: (804) 287-6516
E-mail: lawadmissions@richmond.edu