 Pedro Salim graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida. After graduating from the University of Florida, he moved to Orlando, Florida to attend law school at Florida A & M University. During his first year of law school, he was elected to serve as the Representative for the Student Bar Association and the Hispanic American Law Student Association. Pedro worked closely with the school administration and the law school dean on student issues and possible improvements to Florida A & M University College of Law. In addition to his roles as Representative, he was an active member of the American Association for Justice, and the Federalist Society. Pedro enjoyed participating in various school functions and volunteer opportunities throughout campus and the Orlando community. He also was elected to serve as the President of the Hispanic American Student Bar Association for the 2008-2009 school year. He is the recipient of the 2008 Leesfield/ AAJ Law Student Scholarship. His hard work and dedication to the legal community make him a wonderful choice. |
 A rising second year law student at the Sandra Day O'Connor School of Law at Arizona State University, James Cool has a long history of demonstrable commitment to trial advocacy and community outreach. James has competed in mock trial competitions since high school. As an undergraduate at the University of Arizona, James founded the university's first ever mock trial program and led his team to a third place finish nationally in his final year. As an undergraduate, James also helped to coach two high school mock trial programs and founded and ran one of the nation’s most successful collegiate mock trial invitational tournaments. As a law student, James has continued in his commitment to trial advocacy both as a competitor and coach. James is currently an associate coach with the Arizona State undergraduate mock trial team and successfully guided his team to the National Tournament last season. He is also teaching a course on jury trial advocacy to gifted 8th and 9th grade students participating in the Barrett Honors College Summer Scholars Program. James Cool competed in the 2008 AAJ Student Trial Advocacy Competition and was the captain of his team. James also develops, coordinates and teaches a one day academy on trial advocacy for high school mock trial students from across Arizona. He has also spearheaded efforts to create a “youth mentoring board” at ASU law which will provide mentoring and outreach to underserved youth, including many trial advocacy opportunities. For his efforts, James was recognized as one of three 1L outstanding pro-bono achievers by ASU law for logging more than 300 hours of pro-bono work in his first year of law school. |
AAJ awarded six scholarships this year to deserving minority law students who have demonstrated an interest and proficiency of skills in trial advocacy, expressed a desire to represent victims, and demonstrated a commitment to AAJ and the civil justice system. Jenifer Finney is a law student at West Virginia University College of Law. Cindy Panuco is a third year law student at Loyola Law School - Los Angeles. Trevor Reaves is a law student at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Pedro Salim is a second year law student at Florida A &M University. Dominique Williams is a third year law student at North Carolina Central University. Teckla Womack is a second year law student at the University of South Carolina. The students were selected based on their strong desire to make a positive contribution to the legal profession.
 Heather Lane Wood graduated valedictorian from The University of Tulsa College of Law this past December and has since passed the Texas Bar and began working as an associate for the Haynes & Boone corporate healthcare section in Dallas, Texas. While in law school, Lane wrote and published “Your Right to Decide; Oklahoma’s Advance Directive & Other Health Care Planning Tools” in conjunction with Attorney General Drew Edmondson and St. John’s Medical Center. Last month, her seminar paper titled “A Young Vaccine for Young Girls: Should the Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Be Mandatory for Public School Attendance?” was published in the American Bar Associations The Health Lawyer. While in law school, Lane worked in the University of Tulsa’s Bosche Legal Clinic as a student attorney assisting elderly clients in writing wills, advanced directives and powers of attorney. She also served as guardian ad litem for the Tulsa County probate court and handled guardianship cases. As a result of her passion and commitment to helping the elderly, Lane wrote Oklahoma’s first consumer guide aimed at giving older citizens the tools to make advance health care decisions. The consumer guide has already been used in instructional clinics and other community association meetings. Now that she has passed the Texas Bar, Lane expects to continue donating her time to assist underprivileged elderly clients in legal matters. She also expects to encounter challenges and new ways to continue to advocate for women and the elderly. As a forceful advocate for the health care needs of the most marginalized members of society, she is exceptionally deserving of the Elaine Osborne Jacobson Award.For more information about AAJ scholarships and awards, go to the AAJ Law Student Scholarships and Awards page. You may also contact Nathalie Etori at 800-424-2725, ext. 8593 or email her at nathalie.etori@justice.org. |
