(OAKLAND, May 12, 2009) — Each year, Reed Smith LLP, one of the fifteen largest law firms in the world, supports the California Bar Foundation by sponsoring a law student who has demonstrated the most outstanding interest and involvement in public service as a “Reed Smith Scholar.”

This year’s Reed Smith Scholar is Emily Maglio, who graduates this year from Stanford Law School.  Emily is one of 17 California law students who will receive $2,000 towards the costs of their entry examinations as part of the Bar Foundation’s annual Rosenthal Bar Exam Scholarship Program.  

“Despite the challenges of the economy, we believe it is still important to support programs like the California Bar Foundation’s Bar Exam Scholarship, as well as outstanding law school graduates who intend to give back to their communities,” said Ted Ting, a partner at Reed Smith and a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.  “In fact, the need for public interest lawyers may be even greater now, and our support of the Reed Smith Scholar demonstrates our commitment to full and equal access to the justice system for all Californians.”

About the 2009 Reed Smith Scholar

Emily Maglio has long demonstrated a commitment to social justice issues.  While at Williams College, Emily was actively involved in a successful movement to institute a Latino studies program at the college.  After college, she worked for a small civil rights law firm, which gave her first-hand knowledge of how the law can restore dignity to abused and mistreated individuals.  That job motivated her to apply to law school to study civil rights law. 

While at Stanford Law School, Emily has been focused on public interest opportunities.  She has worked at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, the Legal Aid Society – Employment Law Center, and the American Civil Liberties Union.  She also spent a semester in the Stanford Criminal Defense Clinic, representing a non-violent offender serving a life sentence under California’s Three Strikes Law.

After graduation, Emily will clerk for Judge Karlton of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California.  After she completes her clerkship, she hopes to pursue a career working on behalf of low-income individuals facing discrimination due to race and/or gender.

About The Rosenthal Bar Exam Scholarship

The Rosenthal Bar Exam Scholarship is one of the few scholarship programs in the country specifically aimed at providing Bar exam-related support for aspiring public interest lawyers, who often graduate from law school with upwards of $100,000 in debt from student loans.   Because these graduates lack the financial support of a private law firm employer, the cost of taking the exam, enrolling in a bar review course, and covering their living expenses while studying for the exam can add thousands of dollars to their debt burden.

For 2009, the Foundation Bar Exam Scholarships has granted scholarships to 17 students from 12 California law schools.  Nominated by their law schools, the recipients demonstrate a commitment to public service, academic excellence, and financial need.  With the support of Reed Smith and other firms, the Foundation is awarding the recipients $2,000 scholarships – a doubling of last year’s award – to assist with the costs of taking the California Bar Exam.  The top five recipients also receive California BAR/BRI Law Review Bar Exam review courses valued at more than $3,000 each.

“The tightening of the credit market has made it increasingly difficult for law students to obtain loans from private lenders to help cover costs associated with taking the Bar exam.  The challenge is particularly acute for students planning to pursue historically low-paying public interest careers, and that is a critical reason why we increased the size of our Bar Exam Scholarship awards this year,” said Mario Camara, the Foundation’s President.  “The Rosenthal Bar Exam Scholarship Program is a long-term investment in the legal profession that will benefit the justice system for years to come.”

The Foundation launched the Rosenthal Bar Exam Scholarship in 1997 in memory of Imelda Rosenthal, a Guatemalan immigrant, small businesswoman, and tireless community volunteer.  Since 1997, the Foundation has awarded nearly $170,000 in cash awards and bar review courses to more than 215 graduates of California law schools.

About Reed Smith

Reed Smith is one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, with nearly 1,700 lawyers in 23 offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. 

Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises.  Its lawyers provide litigation and other dispute resolution services in multi-jurisdictional and high-stake matters, deliver regulatory counsel, and execute the full range of strategic domestic and cross-border transactions.  Reed Smith is a preeminent advisor to industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, advertising, technology and media, shipping, energy trade and commodities, real estate, manufacturing, and education.  For more information, visit reedsmith.com

U.S.: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Oakland, Princeton, Northern Virginia, Wilmington, Silicon Valley, Century City, Richmond

Europe: London, Paris, Munich, Greece

Middle East:  Abu Dhabi, Dubai

Asia:  Hong Kong, Beijing