Will County Bar Association Announces 2021 Scholarship Recipient
The Will County Bar Association in collaboration with the Black Bar Association of Will County, Latino Bar Association of Will County, Will County Women’s Bar Association and Spesia & Taylor Attorneys at Law has awarded its Will County Legal Opportunity Scholarship. The Scholarship awards a $5,000 per year up to three years for Law School tuition ($15,000 over three years), a $1,000 payment for Bar preparatory course, and up to $10,000 per year for three years after law school in loan reimbursement to the recipient. The Scholarship recipient was selected after displaying excellence in academic achievement and community involvement.
The scholarship program was created to encourage diversity within the Will County legal community by awarding an incoming first-year Black or Latino law student financial assistance while gaining valuable networking opportunities within the legal community. Applications were accepted from students from various backgrounds who showed a desire to practice law and make an impact in the Will County community.
After reviewing the applications from several highly qualified candidates, the scholarship committee selected 4 finalists to be interviewed. Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court judges Dinah Archambeault, Vincent Cornelius, David Garcia, and Carmen Goodman along with Will County Attorneys Rolonda Mitchell, Chris Spesia, Jaya Varghese, Philip Villasenor, and Shenonda Tisdale conducted the interviews and selected Adrian Guzman. Mr. Guzman will be the first recipient of the Will County Legal Opportunity Scholarship Program. “The Will County Bar Association is proud to support Mr. Guzman who has made a point to be a leader within his community," said Will County Bar Association President Bob Bodach.
Guzman grew up in the Joliet area. The son of Mexican immigrants, Guzman credits his mother and father for inspiring him to attend the University of St. Francis in Joliet, where he achieved a 4.0 GPA. This fall, Guzman will attend Northern Illinois University College of Law. Guzman has volunteered his time at the Will County Courthouse where he assisted individuals by interpreting legal forms from English to Spanish. Guzman also has interned at the Spanish Community Center. Guzman plans to stay involved in the community by interning at the Will County Public Defender’s office and/or the Will County State’s Attorney’s office. According to Guzman, “my dream is to practice law in Joliet and to continue to serve the Latino Community.”