Yasin Amba ‘16L Wins McGuireWoods Diversity Scholarship
Yasin Amba, a member of the law class of 2016 at Washington and Lee University School of Law, has received a 2014 McGuireWoods Diversity Scholarship. The $5000 scholarship was one of eight awarded by the firm this summer.
According to the firm, the awards are granted to outstanding first-year law students who have shown a commitment to contributing to and supporting diversity within the legal profession. The scholarship is sent directly to the winner’s law school in payment of tuition and books.
Each scholarship candidate submitted a form application, resume, transcripts, personal letter of recommendation and an essay explaining their commitment to diversity in the legal profession. After receiving an overwhelming number of submissions, a team of McGuireWoods’ lawyers and recruiting professionals selected the scholarship recipients.
In his scholarship essay, Amba wrote about being separated from his family in Ethiopia while still in grade school and how he made the transition life in the U.S. Even while dealing with extreme hardship, including a stint living out of his car, Amba always made giving back to the community a priority. This, in turn, helped guide him on his career path.
In his first year at W&L, Amba participated in the Black Law Student Association’s mock trial competition. His team finished as the regional runners-up and advanced to national competition.
