(Pittsburgh, PA, July 13, 2005) – Reed Smith a top 25 international law firm selected Alexandria C. Samuel as the fourth recipient of the prestigious Reed Smith Fellowship.  The Fellowship is awarded annually to a first-year law student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law who has surmounted economic or social adversity in pursuit of a law degree.

Overcoming the considerable challenges of growing up as the child of a drug addicted single mother in the housing projects of Baltimore, Ms. Samuel graduated from The University of Maryland in May 2004, with a bachelor’s degree in legal studies. She is the previous recipient of a 2004 University of Pittsburgh School of Law Merit Scholarship and the 2005 Homer S. Brown Legal Scholarship.

In addition to achieving notable academic success in high school and college, Ms. Samuel founded Girls Rising, a mentoring program for minority girls in her former Baltimore neighborhood. The Reed Smith Fellowship for the 2005-2006 academic year provides tuition for Ms. Samuel’s final years of legal training as well as affords her an opportunity to work in Reed Smith’s Pittsburgh office in the summer after her second year of law school.

"Alexandria’s story is an inspirational one of triumph in the face of enormous disadvantage” said Cathy Bissoon, Reed Smith’s Director of Diversity.  “The firm is dedicated to encouraging students within the legal profession with such high standards of conduct and academic performance who persevere despite seemingly overwhelming obstacles.  We need talented, committed individuals like Alexandria as colleagues. We’re particularly delighted to have the opportunity to recognize and celebrate her accomplishments and support her final years of legal training.”

The Reed Smith Fellowship was established in 2002 as an annual award to a beginning second-year law student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law who overcomes adversity in pursuit of a legal education. To compete for the honor, students must have a B average in their first year coursework and write an essay describing how they encountered and overcame economic or social adversity.  Applicants must also demonstrate commitment to the community and involvement in extracurricular activities to be competitive for the scholarship.

“The faculty and student body at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law congratulate Alexandria on this sterling accomplishment,” said Mary A. Crossley, Dean of the law school.  “She is a gifted, dedicated and giving student with a great future ahead of her.  I know she will gain much from her summer employment at Reed Smith and that Reed Smith will gain much from having Alexandria in the Pittsburgh office.  The firm has selected an outstanding student for this award."

Ms. Samuel’s Fellowship application described her formative years growing up with her brother and two cousins in the custody of her grandmother in Murphy Homes, a tough inner-city housing project in Baltimore often referred to as  the “Devil’s Dungeon.” 

“My grandmother worked day and night just to feed and clothe us,” Ms. Samuel says.  “The lack of adult supervision had a chilling effect on my early school performance and I struggled through first and second grade to stay up with my class.”

Ms. Samuel credits the influence of her third grade teacher as a major factor in promoting and sustaining her dramatic, sustained academic turnaround.  “This teacher’s influence helped me become the first woman in my family to graduate from high school, and it encouraged me to establish a mentor group for minority girls and become active in my community,” she explains.

Ms. Samuel was honored at a reception on Tuesday, July 12 at Reed Smith’s downtown office.

“I am overjoyed and honored to be selected for this Fellowship,” Ms. Samuel says.  “I am particularly enthusiastic about the summer work opportunity.  I know I will benefit from working with the best and most talented lawyers in Pittsburgh.”

The New York office of Reed Smith has named its 2005 Fellow as well, tapping Damaris Hernandez, a student at New York University School of Law and a Harvard University graduate, as the third recipient of the annual Reed Smith Fellowship in that city.

Reed Smith LLP is a top-25 international law firm with 1,000 lawyers located in 17 cities worldwide (14 in the U.S. and three in Europe).  The firm represents clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to mid-market and emerging companies. Clients include financial services firms, life sciences companies, health care providers, technology companies and entrepreneurs, power generators and suppliers, manufacturers, real estate companies, universities, and non-profit organizations throughout the United States and 40 countries.  For more information, visit www.reedsmith.com.