Scholarship Opportunities for High School Students

Are there any students out there looking for scholarship money for college?  I thought so.  The Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society has an essay contest that up to 150 students can enter.

If students you know have an interest in the law and/or social justice, they should check out this contest.

In addition to the Historical Society, the essay contest is sponsored by the Minnesota State Bar’s Civil Litigation Section, the American Board of Trial Advocates and Minnesota Lawyer.

Here is the question that students are being asked:

Fifty years ago, in Gideon v. Wainwright, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously recognized the right of appointment of counsel for criminal defendants who cannot afford an attorney. No parallel right is required under federal law for litigants in civil cases.

Minnesota recognizes a right to civil counsel in some limited circumstances, including termination of parental rights, involuntary commitment, juvenile delinquency, paternity, civil contempt and guardianship matters.

Does equal access to justice for persons who cannot afford legal representation require a civil right to counsel in Minnesota under additional circumstances? If not, please state why. If so, what would those circumstances be?

Only lawyers could come up with a question that long, right? Still, it is a nice opportunity to earn some scholarship money.  And hey, they might learn something too.

Go to http://www.mncourthistory.org/ for more information.

Mike Bradley is Partner of Bradley & Guzzetta, LLC in Woodbury, MN.