MCDONALD’S SCHOLARSHIP
Bernardo Lopez
Bernardo is a third-year law student at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. He graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Arts in History with Distinction and a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a minor in Political Science. Bernardo was a President’s Scholar at Southern Methodist. Bernardo’s maturity, humility and extensive history of pro bono and community service has impressed the HLSF Board. For that reason, HLSF has invested in Bernardo’s advancement and future two years in a row. He was a scholarship recipient in 2019 and now 2020. To name a few of his accomplishments, Bernardo received the “Outstanding Service by a Law Student” award from Katten and Legal Aid Chicago de Diego Clinic, he volunteers with the National Immigrant Justice Center to assist with U Visa cases, and volunteered to assist with asylum work for the International Refugee Assistance Project. Bernardo is currently working as a PILI Fellow with MALDEF and will start as an associate in the Litigation group at Sidley Austin after graduation. He is a first-generation immigrant and the first person in his family to go to law school in the United States. In Bernado’s words, this scholarship will help him to grow his network, pay for his legal studies, and provide him with increased opportunities to help our Latino/a community. He is very grateful. Bernardo is no doubt a rising star and HLSF is proud to have him join the HLSF network and the overall community of Latino lawyers.