McGuireWoods awards diversity scholarship to ND Law student

Jasmine Rasheed, a rising second-year student at Notre Dame Law School, has received a diversity scholarship award from the law firm McGuireWoods.

McGuireWoods’ annual Diversity Scholarship Program awards scholarships to diverse first-year law students who are committed to contributing to and supporting diversity within the legal profession.

Rasheed was born in the South American nation of Guyana and immigrated to New York when she was 8 years old. She was first exposed to the law when she was mentored in high school by a housing attorney.

She received her undergraduate degree from Jay College of Criminal Justice of The City University of New York, where she explored many different paths relating to policy and the law.

“All of those experiences confirmed for me that studying the law would be my passion. I chose Notre Dame because of its promise to train a different kind of lawyer,” Rasheed said. “I know when I graduate I want to practice law in a manner that makes the profession proud.”

McGuireWoods previously awarded Rasheed a scholarship to participate in the Barbri Law Preview program, which she said helped prepare her for her first year of law school.

“I believe that diversity is important within the legal field to bring different perspectives. We are in the profession of solving problems, and new ideas always help as we service our clients,” Rasheed said.

Rasheed is the first in her family to attend school in the United States and the first to attend graduate school.

“This scholarship will be a great support to me so that I can focus on my classes,” she said.

McGuireWoods scholarship applicants are considered based on their involvement in community activities and diversity-related student organizations, personal achievements, and law school and undergraduate academic performance.