2.06.23 — To honor the legacy of the late Massachusetts Chief Justice Ralph Gants, diverse students across the commonwealth now have access to stipends for co-ops or internships with state judges. The first two students awarded Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants Judicial Scholarships are Northeastern Law students Nadia Eldemery ’24, who will intern with First Justice Helen Brown Bryant in Suffolk County Juvenile Court, and Hui Chen ’23, who will intern with Justice Elspeth Cypher at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Currently, all state co-ops and internships are unpaid. The Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants Judicial Scholarship Program will provide $150,000 to law students across the commonwealth who cannot afford to take an unpaid internship or co-op. It is hoped that this initiative will help diversify the pipeline for post-law school judicial law clerkships and for judgeships.

“Working closely inside a judge’s chambers allows law students to hone their research and writing skills, enrich their insights about the development of jurisprudence and develop a close relationship with a judge who can be a mentor and advisor,” said Professor Deborah Ramirez, co-faculty director of Northeastern Law’s Center for Law, Equity and Race (CLEAR) and founder of Northeastern Law’s Criminal Justice Task Force, which successfully advocated for the Massachusetts Legislature to fund the program.

Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants Judicial Scholars

Nadia Eldemery ’24
Suffolk County Juvenile Court
(Boston, Massachusetts)

Nadia will work with First Justice Brown Bryant and the other judges of the Boston Juvenile Court to protect children from abuse and neglect, to strengthen families and provide rehabilitative services to juveniles. She will gain a more comprehensive understanding of the laws pertaining to juveniles in the commonwealth, reinforcing her aspirations to be a child advocate.

Hui Chen ’23
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
(Boston, Massachusetts)

Hui will work closely with Justice Elspeth Cypher and her law clerks to conduct legal research, draft memoranda and participate in internal deliberations on cases.

About Northeastern University School of Law

The nation’s leader in experiential legal education since 1968, Northeastern University School of Law offers the longest-running, most extensive experience-based legal education program in the country. Northeastern guarantees its students unparalleled practical legal work experiences through its signature Cooperative Legal Education Program. More than 1,000 employers worldwide in a wide range of legal, government, nonprofit and business organizations participate in the program. With a focus on social justice and innovation, Northeastern University School of Law blends theory and practice, providing students with a unique set of skills and experiences to successfully practice law.

For more information, contact d.feldman@northeastern.edu.