The Howard University School of Law has announced a $10 million commitment from the Jerome L. Greene Foundation to launch a program for African-American law students committed to a career in public service law.

The gift, the largest in the law school's history, will establish the Greene Public Service Scholars Program, providing four students annually with full-tuition scholarships over three years; a curriculum focused on public interest law, including lectures and other programming as well as mentoring from prominent public interest lawyers; and training opportunities in the form of summer placements at major law firms in Washington, D.C. The first scholarships will be awarded to law students matriculating this fall.

According to the American Bar Association, only 5 percent of attorneys in the United States are African American, and while a large number of African-American law students enter school with the intention of pursuing a career in public interest law, many are forced to change direction because of the high cost of a legal education.

"Our hope is that these funds help Howard University School of Law deepen its commitment to educating the best legal minds to work for underserved communities and fight for social justice," said Jerome L. Greene Foundation president and CEO Chris McInerney. "The Greene Public Service Scholars will acquire advocacy skills [and] public interest experience, and benefit from exposure to lawyers who have contributed to civil and human rights by deploying the law for positive social change."

"The generous gift of the Jerome L. Greene Foundation allows talented Howard law students to work in furtherance of their commitments to serving in the public interest and engaging in the fight for social justice," said Carmia N. Caesar, assistant dean of career services at the Howard University School of Law. "The greatest need for legal services is on behalf of individuals who rely on free or reduced-cost legal services. These are precisely the attorneys that the Greene Public Service Scholars Program will produce."

(Photo credit: Howard University School of Law)