Vedder Price is pleased to announce that Julia Angelica Muhsen and Nanxi You, first-year law students at University of California, Berkeley, School of Law and Washington University School of Law, have been named the recipients of the 2022 1L Diversity Scholarships in Chicago and New York, respectively. This is the 18th year Vedder Price has offered the scholarships, which provide both a monetary award and placement in the firm’s Summer Associate Program.

Ms. Muhsen will work with all practice areas at the firm. Prior to attending the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, Ms. Muhsen received her undergraduate degree from Columbia University in New York, where she made the Dean’s list for seven semesters, and received multiple awards and accolades, including the CSER Departmental Excellence in Scholarship Award and the Office of Multicultural Affairs Award. Ms. Muhsen currently works on the Post-Conviction Advocacy Project at Berkeley Law as a Student Advocate with UnCommon Law, and collaborates with lead attorneys to provide pro bono legal services for incarcerated people preparing for parole.

“As someone born and raised in Chicago, I wanted a firm that reflected my love for not only my city, but the communities I come from,” Ms. Muhsen said. “Vedder Price’s commitment to diversity and equity has not only been clear from my time in law school, but also from growing up in the city and seeing Vedder Price’s sponsorship of important equity efforts, such as the National Museum of Mexican American Art. I hope that my time with Vedder this summer will not only help build my skills as a young attorney, but help me lay a foundation for my future career in my hometown.”

Ms. You will primarily work with the firm’s Global Transportation Finance practice area. Ms. You received her undergraduate degree from Columbia University and studied abroad at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Prior to attending Washington University School of Law, Ms. You worked as an Early Learning Specialist for Sunset Park Family Health Center at NYU Langone, where she provided early literacy support and child development guidance to Mandarin-speaking families and children.

“As an immigrant and the first in my family to attend law school, I feel very privileged to have had experiences that have taught me how to better advocate for myself and for other diverse individuals,” Ms. You said. “As I enter the legal profession, I hope that I can work with like-minded colleagues who recognize the value in perspectives of individuals from different backgrounds and experiences. I chose Vedder Price because I felt that I was able to have candid conversations about diversity with the attorneys that I spoke with and because I felt that the firm was invested in me and my professional development. The Diversity Scholarship is an incredible opportunity to learn from mentors who are committed to making the legal profession a more inclusive one.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Julia and Nanxi to the firm this summer,” said Andrew Torre, Chair of Vedder Price’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee. “Both Julia and Nanxi are exceptionally talented individuals and law students with unique and diverse worldviews. We look forward to them joining the firm as Summer Associates and advancing our commitment and investment in the next generation of diverse lawyers, both within the firm and the legal profession in general.”

To learn more about the Vedder Price Diversity Scholarship, click here.