The Duke University School of Law has received a $10 million challenge grant from the Duke Endowment to establish new financial support for struggling students. The grant will also match funds for any endowments that support scholarships, fellowships, and loan repayment assistance.
While it shares a name with the university, the Duke Endowment is a separate entity that seeks to further the opportunities available to the communities in North and South Carolina. Minor Shaw, the Chair of the Board of Trustees at The Duke Endowment, said that James B. Duke, the university’s founder, had a vision to train lawyers and that the endowment’s gift is in keeping with that vision.
“Duke Law is deeply committed to meeting the financial needs of our students, who come from diverse social and economic backgrounds, as well as helping to meet the great need for public interest lawyers,” said Duke Law Dean Kerry Abrams.
Besides bolstering financial support, the gift will help create summer and post-graduate fellowships that will ease the burden for students pursuing public interest work, given the lower entry-level salaries for such positions compared to private sector employment.
