In what some might jokingly describe as a case of crooks wanting to help crooks become lawyers, a Minnesota law firm is offering a law school scholarship exclusively for people who have been in trouble with the law.
The Appelman Law Firm Criminal Defense Scholarship is designed to reward those who’ve made better choices after a conviction – those who have managed to turn their lives around and intend to pursue a career in criminal defense.
“There’s a real need for passionate attorneys in criminal defense,” said Avery Appelman, the firm’s founder. “Nothing instills a great passion for justice quite like having suffered through the process yourself.”
“There are just too many ways to run afoul of the law for anyone to think they are immune. A mistake can easily lead to an arrest or jail,” he said.
Appelman believes that with all the laws out there that avoiding a criminal record has become more a matter of luck than being a good citizen. He claims that an estimate from the U.S. government in the 1980′s put the number of federal criminal statutes at about 3,000 and that shortly afterward, a study by the American Bar Association said that was too low, but it couldn’t come up with a better number. Adding in state crimes only makes the situation worse, a press release from the firm declared.
“When a simple marijuana possession charge can ban someone from federal aid, there’s something wrong with the system,” said Appelman. “As a society, we need to rethink what it means when we slap on the label of criminal, how it adversely affects someone’s life.”
To apply for the scholarship, applicants have to write a short essay about their experience with the law and submit proof of a police record. Applications for the 2014 scholarship will be taken until May 31st, and the award decision will be made in August.
Click here for more information.
You might also enjoy: 'Anything But Law School' Post-Grad Scholarship
No comments:
Post a Comment