USC Law’s Katie Ramseur Named 2014 Womble Carlyle Scholar

Womble Carlyle Scholars Program Provides $30,000 Scholarship, Summer Internship for Diverse Second-Year Law Students

Katie Ramseur (University of South Carolina School of Law) and Rolf Garcia-Gallont (Wake Forest School of Law) are the 2014 recipients of the Womble Carlyle Scholarship.

The Womble Carlyle Scholars Program was established in 2004 to honor diverse second-year law school students with solid academic credentials, personal or professional achievement outside the school environment, and a record of significant community service. The program is designed to increase participation in the bar by traditionally underrepresented groups.

Womble Carlyle Scholars each receive a $30,000 scholarship, as well as an offer of summer employment as a summer associate. Several former Womble Carlyle Scholars now practice at the firm as attorneys. To date, the firm has awarded more than 75 scholarships totaling more than $600,000.

“The law needs to represent all Americans, and to do so, the legal profession needs to look like America,” said attorney Brent Clinkscale, Chair of Womble Carlyle’s Diversity Committee. “Bringing two outstanding law students like Katie, who is African-American, and Rolf, who is Hispanic, into our firm will only make Womble Carlyle a stronger, healthier place.”

Attorney Liz Arias, Chair of Womble Carlyle’s Recruiting Committee, said “We had many outstanding applicants, and Katie and Rolf stood out as exemplifying the academic excellence, leadership and community service we are looking for in Womble Carlyle Scholars.”

Ramseur is a 2011 graduate of Davidson College. At the University of South Carolina School of Law, she ranks in the top 13% of the Class of 2016 and is a member of the South Carolina Law Review, the Pro Bono Board and the Black Law Students Association. Her public service experience includes working with Habitat for Humanity, Second Harvest Food Bank, Safe Alliance, and The Ada Jenkins Center.

Ramseur will work with the firm’s Business Litigation team in the Charlotte, N.C. office. Other outstanding scholarship applicants who weren’t named Womble Carlyle Scholars still will be considered for summer associate positions.

The Womble Carlyle Scholars Program is one piece of Womble Carlyle’s comprehensive Diversityefforts. The firm’s initiatives to recruit and retain more diverse attorneys and staff include: Establishing a Diversity Committee comprised of minority and non-minority Associates and Partners to address minority and female recruiting, retention, and advancement issues; Offering domestic partner benefits;  Recruiting at law schools with large minority enrollments; Sponsoring events in conjunction with diverse student organizations at neighboring law schools; Recruiting at local and regional minority job fairs; and Considering contributions to the Firm’s Diversity Initiative in compensation, bonus and advancement decisions.