Martin Martinez and Hayleigh Shobar Named 2021 Diversity Scholars
Vedder Price is pleased to announce that Martin Martinez and Hayleigh Shobar, both first-year law students at the University of Chicago Law School, have been named Diversity Scholars in Chicago and New York, respectively. This is the 17th year Vedder Price has offered the scholarship, which provides both a monetary award and placement in the firm’s Summer Associate Program.
Mr. Martinez will assist with the firm’s Corporate, Labor & Employment and Litigation practice areas. Prior to attending the University of Chicago Law School, Mr. Martinez served as a Community and Organizational Affairs Coordinator and Bankruptcy Court Help Desk Coordinator for Legal Aid Chicago, where he established community clinics to educate Chicagoans on issues surrounding debt and bankruptcy. Mr. Martinez received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and traveled the country as a varsity track athlete, earning All-American honors. Currently, he serves as a 1L representative for the Latinx Law Students Association and is the Tony Patiño Fellow-Elect.
“I know the value that is added in having a workplace that reflects the cultures, knowledge, and various experiences that make up our society. I believe that diversity promotes creativity and new ideas—leading to better quality of work,” Mr. Martinez said.
Ms. Shobar will assist with the firm’s Labor & Employment and Litigation practice areas. As an undergraduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Ms. Shobar was the recipient of the Cal Alumni Student Association Leadership Award and worked as a caseworker for the ASUC Legal Clinic. At the University of Chicago Law School, she is a member of the Latinx Law Students Association as well as a 1L representative for the Law Women’s Caucus and Environmental Law Society.
“As the first member of my family to pursue professional education, the Diversity Scholarship is a tremendous honor,” Ms. Shobar said. “My mom did not have the opportunity to attend college, so she worked hard to prioritize education for me and my brother. I attribute my love of learning the law to the curiosity she fostered in me growing up and feel very lucky to start my legal career as a Diversity Scholar at Vedder.”
“We are excited to welcome Martin and Hayleigh to the firm this summer and are proud of our continued relationship with the University of Chicago Law School and its promising law students,” said Andrew Torre, Chair of Vedder Price’s Diversity Committee. “Both scholars bring a unique and diverse worldview as well as an enormous amount of talent and academic success to the firm. By investing in the next generation of lawyers, we seek to expand and enrich the talent pool across the legal field.”
To learn more about the Vedder Price Diversity Scholarship, click here.
Vedder Thinking | News Martin Martinez and Hayleigh Shobar Named 2021 Diversity Scholars
Press Release
March 30, 2021
Vedder Price is pleased to announce that Martin Martinez and Hayleigh Shobar, both first-year law students at the University of Chicago Law School, have been named Diversity Scholars in Chicago and New York, respectively. This is the 17th year Vedder Price has offered the scholarship, which provides both a monetary award and placement in the firm’s Summer Associate Program.
Mr. Martinez will assist with the firm’s Corporate, Labor & Employment and Litigation practice areas. Prior to attending the University of Chicago Law School, Mr. Martinez served as a Community and Organizational Affairs Coordinator and Bankruptcy Court Help Desk Coordinator for Legal Aid Chicago, where he established community clinics to educate Chicagoans on issues surrounding debt and bankruptcy. Mr. Martinez received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and traveled the country as a varsity track athlete, earning All-American honors. Currently, he serves as a 1L representative for the Latinx Law Students Association and is the Tony Patiño Fellow-Elect.
“I know the value that is added in having a workplace that reflects the cultures, knowledge, and various experiences that make up our society. I believe that diversity promotes creativity and new ideas—leading to better quality of work,” Mr. Martinez said.
Ms. Shobar will assist with the firm’s Labor & Employment and Litigation practice areas. As an undergraduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Ms. Shobar was the recipient of the Cal Alumni Student Association Leadership Award and worked as a caseworker for the ASUC Legal Clinic. At the University of Chicago Law School, she is a member of the Latinx Law Students Association as well as a 1L representative for the Law Women’s Caucus and Environmental Law Society.
“As the first member of my family to pursue professional education, the Diversity Scholarship is a tremendous honor,” Ms. Shobar said. “My mom did not have the opportunity to attend college, so she worked hard to prioritize education for me and my brother. I attribute my love of learning the law to the curiosity she fostered in me growing up and feel very lucky to start my legal career as a Diversity Scholar at Vedder.”
“We are excited to welcome Martin and Hayleigh to the firm this summer and are proud of our continued relationship with the University of Chicago Law School and its promising law students,” said Andrew Torre, Chair of Vedder Price’s Diversity Committee. “Both scholars bring a unique and diverse worldview as well as an enormous amount of talent and academic success to the firm. By investing in the next generation of lawyers, we seek to expand and enrich the talent pool across the legal field.”
To learn more about the Vedder Price Diversity Scholarship, click here.
