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Morris James LLP Celebrates 90th Anniversary with Gift to Delaware State University
CONTRIBUTED BY MORRIS JAMES LLP
Morris James commemorated its 90th anniversary by partnering with the Delaware State University’s (DSU) Law Studies, Bachelor of Arts program, and gifting $10,000 to underwrite Law School Admission Test (LSAT) fees and prep course tuition. Along with this monetary gift, Morris James will offer mentorship and social engagement opportunities to DSU Law Studies students throughout their collegiate career. “I often think about the small collection of attorneys and professionals whose collective vision and fortitude expanded a law firm from its infancy to the 90-year milestone that we are celebrating today,” said Keith Donovan, managing partner of Morris James LLP. “Our founders
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built a law firm based on values that we continue to uphold today. These core cultural values center on client service, hard work, collaboration, and diversity. As we look to the future, it is imperative that Morris James seeks out opportunities, such as this partnership with Delaware State University, to support aspiring Delaware lawyers on the pathway to the Delaware bar. In doing so, we can reduce barriers to success and create a stronger, more diverse talent pool for Morris James and the Delaware legal community.” “In commemorating the firm’s 90th anniversary, Morris James reflected on the lack of historically underrepresented individuals in the Delaware legal
community and sought out an opportunity to help in the diversification of the Delaware bar,” said Patricia A. Winston, chair of the Morris James Diversity and Inclusion Committee. “We engaged in extensive conversations with Delaware educators from all of the state’s institutions of higher education and learned of two critical barriers to success: lack of meaningful mentoring opportunities and fees for LSAT applications and prep courses. Through these conversations, Morris James selected Delaware State University as a recipient of this partnership and gift based on its newly formed Bachelor of Arts program in Law Studies and status as a HBCU. We are excited for this partnership and the possibilities it brings to the DSU students and Delaware legal community.” Law Studies Director Kimeu Boynton of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at DSU said, “This is huge for our students. Fees and prep courses can easily cost them as much as $500, which is a steep ask for young people from low-resource families, many of whom are already working one or two jobs to stay in college. Knowing those fees will be paid for them provides a critical breathing space that can be devoted to their studies rather than trying to acquire money for those additional costs.” The LSAT is the critical standardized test which all students applying to law school are required to take to enter law school. Approximately 60 percent of all students successfully complete the LSAT. Only 39 percent of students who take the LSAT are students of color, and they currently constitute only 11 percent of all law school admissions. “There is a critical need for more diversity in law schools and greater representation of attorneys
Novem b e r / Dec em b e r 2021 | DELAWARE BUSINESS
