Global law firm Reed Smith announced today that Jacobi Jefferson, a second-year law student at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, and Sudeep Kalkunte, a second-year law student at University of Notre Dame Law School, are recipients of the firm’s 2024 Deborah J. Broyles Diverse Scholar Award. Jefferson and Kalkunte will be joining the firm’s 2024 Summer Associate Program in Dallas and Chicago, respectively.

Each year, Reed Smith provides $20,000 to one or more outstanding law school students in the United States who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. The award supports the honoree’s law school-related expenses, and the firm also provides a paid summer associate position at Reed Smith between the student's second and third years of study.

“Now in its 13th year, the Deborah J. Broyles Scholars award represents Reed Smith’s commitment to delivering an enriching experience to diverse law school students and reaffirms our commitment to fostering inclusivity and opportunity in the legal profession,” said Reggie McGahee, Reed Smith’s global head of diversity recruiting. “In being named a Broyles scholar, Jacobi and Sudeep have demonstrated that they uphold the award’s primary qualities – exceptionalism in the classroom and serving as an inspiration in your community – both of which will be the foundation for promising legal careers. We are proud to call Jacobi and Sudeep Broyles Scholars and are excited for them to join us during our 2024 summer associate program.”

Since its inception in 2002, the Broyles Diverse Scholar Award and its predecessor program has awarded 35 scholarships and summer associate positions.

For more information about the Deborah J. Broyles Diverse Scholars Program and how to apply, please visit diversity.reedsmith.com.