2026 Deborah J| Broyles Trailblazer Scholars Program

The Deborah J. Broyles Trailblazer Scholars Program provides an award in the amount of $20,000 and a summer associate position to two second-year law students who have demonstrated academic excellence, a commitment to diversity and inclusion and/or demonstrated that they have overcome significant adversity in their path to law school. The award is to be used to defray necessary expenditures related to the recipient’s legal education and will be paid in addition to the summer associate salary.

About Deborah Broyles

Our Trailblazer Scholars Program began in 2002. In 2016, we renamed the program to honor late partner Deborah Broyles, who was our firm’s Director of Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. She was known for her legal work and community activism. Deborah was a trailblazer in diversity efforts in the legal profession, and her contributions to promoting diversity in the profession and throughout the United States were significant and transformative.

Eligibility criteria

All Summer Associate applicants will be considered for this award and must:
• Meet the same high academic standard applied to all summer associate candidates
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion or demonstrate they have overcome significant adversity in their path to law school
• Accept Reed Smith’s offer to join the Summer Program following the completion of their second year of law school
• Be matriculated at an ABA-accredited law school
• Be authorized to work in the United States

To Apply, Please Submit The Following Application Materials
• Resume
• A statement demonstrating why you should be selected and a statement demonstrating a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion or demonstrating you have overcome significant adversity in your path to law school, which can serve as a cover letter
• Law school transcript (unofficial versions are acceptable)
• Legal writing sample

Please Note

You may submit your application prior to obtaining your second semester law transcript, but please note that you must update your application via our application portal once your transcript is received. Applications will not be considered complete until your law transcript is received.

We ask that you submit one application to the office of your first preference. If you are interested in more than one location, you may discuss this with the local recruiting contact if you are selected to interview.

Your cover letter, in addition to briefly summarizing your professional background, should include information pertaining to your reasons for applying to Reed Smith and your connection to the location for which you are applying.

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