Thomas F. Eagleton Scholarship

Thompson Coburn’s core values include a commitment to treat each other with civility, respect, sensitivity and tolerance. The natural extension of these core values is our strong commitment to building a diverse workforce. While we’re proud of our efforts to recruit, retain and develop the careers of people from diverse backgrounds and firmly believe these efforts will result in our becoming increasingly diverse in the future, we are always seeking new opportunities to make a greater impact.

With that in mind, our Diversity Committee, working with the firm’s Employment Committee and Chief Diversity & Attorney Development Officer, developed the Thomas F. Eagleton Scholarship, in memory of our late partner and former U.S. Senator, Tom Eagleton.

The Senator was a man of vision. He had a strong personal commitment to helping people. He believed in giving, and was especially generous when it came to giving others his time and attention. So it was only fitting that when we established the Thomas F. Eagleton Scholarship, we made it more than a monetary award to a deserving law student. Each scholarship recipient will receive a full year of mentoring provided by one of our partners, as well as a paid summer internship for the summer following the student’s all-important first year of law school.

This combination of financial support, guidance, and a first step toward a successful legal career will make a difference to each student who is honored with a Thomas F. Eagleton Scholarship.

We believe this is the best way to honor the Senator’s belief in community and helping others whose personal opportunities have been impacted by their particular backgrounds, life experiences or economic circumstances. The impact that these scholarships have on the law students would make the Senator proud.

The efforts of one law firm can’t make the legal profession truly diverse. But we can make a difference, one person at a time.

The Thomas F. Eagleton Scholarship includes:

• $15,000 stipend. Stipend will be paid in (2) equal installments.  
• Summer internship with the Firm following the first year of law school. Recipient will receive a weekly stipend. Internship is renewable.
• Mentorship from Thompson Coburn partner(s).  

Awardees will be announced after the conclusion of the formal interview process in early fall.

Scholarship Eligibility

To be eligible to receive the Thomas F. Eagleton Scholarship an applicant must meet each of the following requirements:

• Enrolled as a first-year law school student at one of the following institutions: 
     • Washington University School of Law; 
     • Saint Louis University School of Law; 
     • University of Missouri – Columbia School of Law; or
     • University of Illinois School of Law
• Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale) at undergraduate institution.
• Citizen or permanent resident of the United States, or able to work in the United States without limit as to duration or the need for employer sponsorship (students in F-1 status are not eligible).  
• Demonstrate the ability to promote or enhance diversity in the legal profession.
• Was either from the first generation in their family to graduate from college, from a demographic group that is underrepresented in the legal profession, and/or whose opportunities have been impacted by their particular background, life experiences or economic circumstances. 

Before receiving scholarships funds, recipient will be required to demonstrate admission to and plans to enroll at one of the participating law schools.

Application Materials

1. Application Form. Each applicant must complete the application form. Available May 1st - July 1st; annually.  
2. Letters of Recommendation.  Each applicant must submit (2) letters of recommendation, at least one of which may be from a professor or employer. Recommendations should not be from a friend, neighbor or family member. Appropriate people to ask include employers, school advisors, coaches and recent professors. No more than two recommendations will be considered. If your recommender(s) would prefer to submit this information separately, please have them e-mail their letter of recommendation to: 
   EagletonScholarship@thompsoncoburn.com.
3. Transcript(s).  Each applicant must submit an official or unofficial copy of their transcript(s) from both undergraduate and graduate institutions.  
4. Resume. Each applicant must submit a resume that includes recent work history and community service participation.
5. Essay (750-1000 words TOTAL for the essay). In 750 – 1,000 words, each applicant must construct an essay that addresses any of the five provided questions. You may incorporate multiple questions from the list into your essay, if you choose.  

Annual Application Period:  May 1st - July 1st 

If you have any questions, please contact EagletonScholarship@thompsoncoburn.com

Eagleton Scholarship Recipients