Plunkett Cooney, one of the Midwest’s oldest and most accomplished law firms, recently selected three law school students to receive $2,500 scholarships based on their essay submissions to the firm’s 2024/2025 Laurel F. McGiffert Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Scholarship program.

Rising 2L students Ebony Daniels from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Dilraj Gill from Wayne State University Law School and Rima Saad from Michigan State University College of Law were selected as this year’s diversity scholarship winners from among the 65 essays submitted.

“We were impressed by the number of high caliber submissions received this year,” said the firm’s Director of DEI, Ellen Bartman Jannette. “The essays demonstrated that while difficult life experiences are often unexpected and challenging, they can be overcome and may, ultimately, positively influence your future. We look forward to seeing the positive impact these scholarship recipients will have on the legal community.”

The firm’s DEI Scholarship Program, which is open to all students attending an accredited law school, is named in honor of the firm’s first DEI Director, the late Laurel F. McGiffert. In addition to a nearly 40-year career as one of Michigan’s most accomplished medical liability and governmental law attorneys, McGiffert received numerous honors and awards for her influence as a black lawyer, her professionalism and her dedication to the legal industry.

In reviewing submissions, panels of firm members considered the anonymous essays based on each author’s response to a prompt about challenges or obstacles they had faced and how overcoming them has prepared them for a career in law. Applicants also needed to address how the lessons they learned will make them a more effective advocate and ally to those from underprivileged and underrepresented backgrounds.

Since 2002, Plunkett Cooney has been among the law firms leading the DEI discussion within the legal industry. As such, the scholarship program is a natural extension of the firm’s DEI goals, which include attracting and retaining law school students from diverse backgrounds.

Plunkett Cooney’s DEI Committee members work with Bartman Jannette to coordinate the firm’s related activities, which include a focus on recruitment, retention, training, mentoring and community involvement. Each year, Plunkett Cooney supports numerous affinity groups, community organizations and law school student organizations focused on advancing DEI.

Established in 1913, Plunkett Cooney is a leading provider of business and litigation services to clients in the private and public sectors. The firm employs attorneys in seven Michigan cities and in Chicago, Illinois, Indianapolis, Indiana and Columbus, Ohio.

Plunkett Cooney has achieved the highest rating (AV) awarded by Martindale-Hubbell, a leading peer review service, and it has received Mansfield Rule Certification Plus for midsize law firms, which recognizes leaders in diversity, equity and inclusion within the legal industry.

For more information about the 2024/2025 DEI scholarship winners, members of the media may contact the firm’s Director of Marketing and Business Development, John Cornwell at (248) 901-4008; jcornwell@plunkettcooney.com.

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