Among the 683 graduates at this year’s Fordham Law Diploma Ceremony are the first cohort of REAL Scholars—graduates of a leadership development program launched in 2021 to give support and opportunity to students who have encountered barriers on their path to law school.
REAL stands for Realizing Excellence and Access in the Law. Since its inception—with philanthropic support from Dennis Dunne and Charlotte Byers, PAR ’24, Scott FitzGerald ’92, Eric Grossman ’93, Michael Paskin ’95, and David Tanen ’96, and with mentorship and event support from Jones Day—the REAL Scholars Program has served as a beacon of diversity and inclusion, providing invaluable opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds to excel in their legal careers.
On May 20, 18 law students who participated in the REAL Scholars Program earned their Juris Doctor degrees. This year’s incoming class includes 20 new scholars who will continue what has now become a signature Fordham program.
“Your legacy is now a part of this Law School,” said Kamille Dean, senior director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Fordham Law, to the “pioneers of the program” at an end-of-year celebration dinner on May 16.
“What you have done and what you have accomplished is going to pay dividends for so many generations,” she added. “People coming through Fordham Law School to this day have you to thank for your persistence, grit, and determination as ambassadors of the REAL Scholars Program.”
The program was “a life-changing opportunity,” according to inaugural REAL Scholar Andrew King ’24, “I went through a lot of adversity in law school, but I always had my REAL cohort to lean on. As frustrating as law school may be, I always looked forward to being around my REAL friends, and I look forward to continuing our relationship beyond the law school setting. We are the ‘REAL 1s,’ the inaugural class.”
The REAL Scholars Program aims to help students feel prepared, confident, and welcomed into the Fordham Law community weeks before first-year J.D. orientation begins in mid-August by providing early exposure to important intellectual, academic, professional, wellness, and social skills needed to be successful in law school and beyond. During that time, the new scholars participate in simulated classes, build community with fellow students, and meet faculty, senior staff, and upper-class students.
Kimathi Gordon-Somers, assistant dean of student affairs and diversity, recalled “how green the students all looked” when they first arrived to pre-orientation in August 2021, “This whole thing called law school was ahead of you, but yet here you are today—accomplished leaders, doing amazing things and going on to do more amazing things. This is a bittersweet moment for me.”
But the program doesn’t end after summer orientation. It continues to support students throughout the school year through various academic and social offerings that build upon the skills that were introduced during pre-orientation week. Additionally, scholars have access to peer mentors and teaching fellows who are available to assist them throughout the academic year.
Through the dedicated efforts and unwavering commitment of administrators and faculty, the program has not only nurtured exceptional talent but has also significantly contributed to shaping leaders within the Law School community and beyond. “The real world lies before you, but you’ve been a stunning success at the Law School,” Dean Matthew Diller told the students. “So many of you have been leaders in our student organizations, student affinity groups, journals, and competitions, and I’m super proud to see all that you have achieved.”
Ferrell Littlejohn ’24, another member of the inaugural cohort, reflected on the three-year-long journey she and her fellow classmates have been on, “This program and the whole Law School experience has been beyond my wildest dreams. I’m grateful for this program and I can’t wait to see all the wonderful things that we continue to accomplish.”
Over the last three years, members of the inaugural cohort also played a critical role in helping shape what this program could do, and could be, for current and future scholars.
“As the administration navigated the implementation of this program, the other scholars and I helped shape what being a part of REAL should look like. We accomplished this,” King said. “There is no other group on campus closer than our group. We are the most diverse group on campus, and I truly enjoyed learning about everyone’s journey to law school. The sense of community, respect, and trust is something that I will take with me after graduation, and I hope to replicate the REAL community in my next endeavor.”
Many graduates of the REAL Program have already secured positions at reputable law firms, and impactful public interest organizations, reflecting the program’s impact on job placement and professional advancement. Their achievements, according to Khanh V. Nguyen, program director for diversity, equity and inclusion, serve as a testament to the transformative power of education and mentorship, reaffirming Fordham Law’s commitment to fostering diverse talent and cultivating future leaders in the legal profession.
Nguyen shared final words of wisdom to the students, “When you are off into the world, don’t forget to continue to blaze a path for the people that come after you. Remember them and continue to come back and give back to us … because you’re setting standards for all the people coming after you.”