In the News

February 06, 2012
McDermott Will & Emery

McDermott Will & Emery Announces Annual Diverse Law Student Scholarship Recipients

International law firm McDermott Will & Emery today announced the recipients of the 2012 McDermott Diverse Law Student Scholarships.

Law students Larry C. Guess (Northwestern University), Lauren Schuster (Loyola University Chicago School of Law) and Brianna Serrano (Cornell Law School) will each receive a scholarship in the amount of $15,000 under the program.

The recipients were selected by the Firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which collaborates with the Firm’s recruiting committees across all offices, assisting in law school recruiting efforts and raising the Firm’s profile by hosting on-campus and in-office receptions for racially and ethnically diverse and LGBT law students.  Committee members actively participate in all facets of the law student recruiting process.

Mr. Larry C. Guess attends Northwestern University School of Law. Prior to entering law school, he spent over 13 years working in sales and marketing in the healthcare industry. Mr. Guess earned his Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and his Bachelor of Science in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University. As an undergraduate, Mr. Guess was a member of the two-time Big Ten Champion Northwestern University football team.  Mr. Guess is actively involved in the Northwestern Black Alumni Association, Illinois Biotechnology Organization, Chicago Urban League, and Turnaround Management Association.

Ms. Lauren Schuster is the first LGBT recipient of the McDermott Diverse Law Student Scholarship. She attends Loyola University Chicago, School of Law, where she is a member of OUTLaw and the Education Policy Society. She also serves as the Associate Editor of the school’s International Law Journal. Ms. Schuster earned her Bachelor of Science in Management and Spanish from Missouri State University. She has prior experience working with the Department of Labor and the Circuit Court of Cook County, Law Division.

As a Cornell Law School student, Ms. Brianna Serrano is a member of the Cornell External Moot Court Team; Intermural Cuccia Cup Moot Court Competition; Latin American Law Students Association, Mentor; Women’s Law Coalition, Mentor; Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, President and Spring Break Service Trip, Vice President. Ms. Serrano earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego. As an undergraduate, Ms. Serrano was a part of the UCSD Mock Trial A-Team, Phi Sigma Alpha, League of Professional Women and Pi Beta Phi. 

“There is a great need to improve diversity and inclusion within law firms, law schools and the legal industry itself. McDermott has taken many positive steps to create programs, including the Diverse Law Student Scholarship program, to reflect our commitment and responsibility to creating a more inclusive legal community,” said Lydia R. B. Kelley, partner and chair of McDermott's Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

“Larry, Lauren and Brianna are involved in programs at their respective law schools that actively aim to improve diversity within the local and legal communities,” added Lisa A.  Linsky, partner and chair of the Firm’s LGBT Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee. “We are thrilled to award Larry, Lauren and Brianna with the scholarship and look forward to seeing them in McDermott offices this summer.  We are particularly pleased this year to expand our existing law student scholarship program to include an LGBT student for the first time.” 

In order to be eligible for McDermott’s annual  Diverse Law Student Scholarship, applicants must be second-year  law students who are racially or ethnically diverse, and/ or LGBT and come from an ABA-accredited law school. The applicants must demonstrate leadership, community involvement, and a commitment to improving diversity in the legal community. Recipients must also be selected to and actually  participate in the McDermott Summer Program. For more information on the McDermott Minority Scholarship, visit http://careers.mwe.com/.

McDermott is committed to a culture that values and nurtures diversity and inclusion. We understand that our culture enhances our ability to attract and retain exceptional talent to best serve our clients. It also helps us bring the best, broadest and most innovative ideas and approaches to client service. To meet our commitment, we have established diversity programs and practices that will continue to help us achieve progress in this important Firm initiative.