As a first-generation law student, Delphert (Del) Clayton Smith III uses his experiences as motivation to help underrepresented communities interface with government bodies.
The 2L’s aspirations, determination and work ethic have earned him a scholarship from California Change Lawyers, a San Francisco-based organization founded in 1989 by the State Bar of California to support budding lawyers, judges and activists.
“Being awarded the California Change Lawyers Scholarship is an honor and something that I am grateful for,” says Smith, who is considering a career as a government litigator. “More than anything else, being awarded this scholarship helped me see that there are people who believe in me, something I appreciated navigating my 1L year.”
With the scholarship, Smith has access to networking opportunities and guidance from legal professionals and scholars. This inspires Smith, who plans to serve as a resource and give back to young lawyers and law students in the future.
“As someone with varying career aspirations, one of the most valuable aspects about these conversations is learning [that] there is no one set path in accomplishing a goal. More than anything else, this network has provided me with encouragement and support to pursue my various career aspirations.”
Smith will bolster his experience and knowledge next summer as a 2L summer associate at WilmerHale in Los Angeles.
“While [at WilmerHale], I hope to gain experience in their commercial litigation group along with their various government facing practice group(s),” he says. “Although I can’t say if there is a specific role or title I want to hold in my career, I ultimately want to continue to be given opportunities to build my legal knowledge and make a positive impact on
the greatest number of people possible.”
Previous Article
