HBCU Scholarship Program

We partner with Meta on the HBCU Scholarship program for high-achieving law students from historically excluded backgrounds who have an interest in corporate law.

It is not enough to say we want a diverse legal profession. We have to meaningfully invest in it. That is why we partner with Meta on the HBCU Scholarship program — because we know that recruiting, developing, and retaining outstanding law students and lawyers from historically excluded groups enables us to succeed from bringing in fresh perspectives, breaking barriers, and creating a more inclusive environment.

THE PROGRAM

The program provides $15,000 scholarships to graduating seniors from historically excluded backgrounds who are currently attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and have been accepted to an ABA-accredited law school for the fall.

Awardees will have the opportunity to interact with Goodwin lawyers and Meta counsels over the course of the year, as well as learn more about both organizations and their legal practices. Each awardee will also be paired with a Goodwin lawyer to forge a mentorship with during their 1L year.

Upon completion of their 1L year at law school, the scholarship recipients will be considered for positions in Goodwin’s 1L Diversity Fellowship program.

To qualify for a scholarship, candidates must:

  • Receive acceptance to, and plan to attend, an ABA-accredited law school; 
  • Express a genuine interest in pursuing a legal career in corporate law; 
  • Not participate in a similar program or be an award recipient of another law firm; 
  • Not be an immediate family member of a Goodwin lawyer or employee; and 
  • Not be a Goodwin client or employee of a Goodwin client  

Successful applicants will demonstrate:

  • Exceptional academic performance
  • Outstanding leadership abilities
  • A commitment to community service
  • Strong interpersonal skills

Candidates interested in applying must complete the online application, which includes the submission of a resume, current undergraduate transcript and personal statement of no more than 500 words. The personal statement should include examples of the applicant’s leadership qualities, contributions to their community, and interest in corporate law.

Testimonials

It is no secret that Black lawyers are woefully underrepresented in large law firms, across all practice groups. As a Morehouse College graduate, I am proud that Goodwin is offering this scholarship for a second year. The firm’s focus on HBCU graduates recognizes the role that HBCUs play in feeding the pipeline of talented Black students into law schools. This scholarship is an effort to serve the community and the legal profession beyond the firm’s walls by strengthening that pipeline.
Calvin Wingfield
IP Litigation Partner and Co-Chair of CRED@Goodwin
Meta is deeply committed to supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities. As a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, I am elated to support this partnership between Meta and Goodwin to target HBCU graduates to increase the pipeline of Black legal talent in the technology and IP sectors. We look forward to a long, effective partnership.
Shayne O’Reilly
Head of Licensing and Open Source at Meta

Get in Touch

If you have any questions about the HBCU Scholarship program, please contact us at HBCUscholarships@goodwinlaw.com.