Scholar Entries - Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund of Illinois

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Are you a past recipient of an Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund award?

Name

Richard Martinez

Current Mailing Address

7337 W. Birchwood Ave
Chicago, IL 60631
United States
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Permanent Address (only if different from Current Mailing Address)

6207 N Winthrop Ave
Chicago, IL 60660
United States
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Phone

(773) 680-4884

Connection to Illinois

Grew up in Chicago. Stayed here my whole life.

In what city do you intend to practice law upon graduation?

Chicago

Name of Law School

Loyola University Chicago School of Law

Class year

2nd year law student

Full Time or Part Time Student?

Part Time

Date you began attending THIS law school

08/01/2024

Anticipated Graduation Date

05/01/2028

Current GPA

3.632

Law School Class Rank (if known)

Top 10%

Law School Honors, Awards or Special Recognitions

Dean’s List (Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025)

Law School Merit Scholarship

Name of Undergraduate Institution

Loyola University Chicago

Degree (BA, BSE, etc.) and Concentration/Major

Bachelor of Business Administration, Business Management

Undergraduate Graduation Date

12/01/2023

GPA

3.3

Were you employed in 2025?

yes

If yes, please identify your employer(s).

O'Hagan Meyer, LLC

What was your immediate family’s (including you and your spouse or domestic partner, if applicable) estimated income from all sources for the 2025 Tax Year?

$72,800.00

Do you expect to be employed in 2026?

yes

If yes, please identify your employer(s).

O'Hagan Meyer, LLC

Please estimate your immediate family’s (including you and your spouse or domestic partner, if applicable) income from all sources for the 2026 Tax year

$72,800.00

Please estimate your parent's average annual household income over the last five years

I don't live with my parents. No funding from my parents.

Do your parents own or rent their home? Please describe, if necessary

Own

Describe your parents' health insurance situation. Do they have employer-sponsored health insurance, health insurance through the exchange, or no health insurance?

Through the exchange.

LIST below your total EXPENSES for attending law school for ONE YEAR (Please refer to example in FAQs)

Total Tuition Cost $

$49,146.00

Books Cost $

$600.00

Fees Cost $

$600.00

Housing Cost $

$8,650.00

Food Cost $

$5,500.00

Total Expenses $ (add above entries)

$64,496.00

LIST below your total FUNDING sources you plan to use to pay for these expenses (Please refer to example in FAQs)

Student Loans $

None

Scholarships and Grants $

$10,000 per year

Work Study, if any $

None

Personal Contribution (Savings/Employment) $

$54,496.00 from Salary

Family Contribution $ (include parents, spouse, partner, etc.)

None

Other Sources $ (describe)

Savings. I've worked since the age of 12.

Total Funding $ (add above entries)

$64,496.00

For 2Ls and 3Ls, what is your current TOTAL loan debt from the previous law school years?

None

Please list any community service activities with which you have been involved in the last ten years, paying particular attention to activities in support of the Hispanic community. For each activity, please include the dates of your participation, a short description of the organization and the community they serve, and a description of the activity you performed to help them. (Please read FAQs before completing)

I am a part-time soccer referee for park district soccer teams, including Rogers Park, a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood. I built connections with those leagues from playing there as a kid. (2016-Present). I’ve worked in community outreach in Evanston to help elderly neighborhoods by shoveling and assisting with landscaping. (2016-2020). I’ve spoken with undocumented parents of elementary and high school friends regarding their rights during ICE’s presence in Chicago, including the implications of the standard of reasonable suspicion based on the Supreme Court’s decision in Noem v. Vasquez. (2025–Present). I’ve met with several undergraduate Hispanic students for advice on law school applications and for experience in law firms. (2024–Present).

Please provide a statement describing your background and focus your statement on your reasons for pursuing a legal career and your legal career goals. This statement is important. Please give it appropriate attention. (min. 1000 characters) (Please read FAQs before completing)

A story I often share when asked why I chose to go to law school is about a frightening experience I had at age 14. My grandfather, on my biological father’s side, was arrested following an incident while driving. Although he wasn’t at fault, he decided to flee because he was an undocumented Mexican immigrant, didn’t speak English well, and was overwhelmed by fear. I saw police violently detain him and put him in the back of a patrol car. My family was distressed, and a couple of white police officers approached me, saying something along the lines of, 'We arrest people who look like your grandfather all the time. Don’t end up like him.' Fortunately, we found a compassionate, experienced attorney who charged a very reasonable fee. I witnessed that attorney’s professionalism firsthand and was impressed by his ability to calm my family, guide us through the situation, and assure us he would fight to clear my grandfather’s name so he could come home. He was exceptional in court and kept that promise. That moment sparked my desire to become an attorney, not just someone who handles high-stakes cases, but someone who can support and guide clients through unfamiliar and often intimidating processes. I decided to work full-time and study part-time to stand out and gain two educations. When I entered the professional world, I saw firsthand how underrepresented the Hispanic community is, especially in larger law firms like the insurance defense firm where I currently work. I also observed casual racism, things that are sometimes dismissed as jokes or innocuous, yet they deeply upset me. Sadly, this attitude persists even within the professional legal environment. What drives me is the underrepresentation of Hispanics; it fuels my determination to work harder. Although I grew up relatively privileged, I feel a responsibility to set an example for those around me, especially people I may not even know who might be inspired by my actions. I have Hispanic friends who didn't grow up with the same privileges. My best friends are Mexican, and they teased me about having more money and more opportunities than they did, and not being “Mexican enough.” Initially, that bothered me, but I've learned to be humble, embrace my identity, recognize how fortunate I am, and vow not to waste that opportunity. Recent political events have increased negative stereotypes about Hispanics, and I believe success is one way to challenge those misconceptions. I've made significant progress, earning a place on the Dean’s List every semester, ranking in the top 10% of my law class, hosting tutoring hours, refereeing and supporting Hispanic sports communities, and helping undocumented parents cope with ICE's awful tactics. I am proud of where I am, but understand that success requires daily effort. I want to prove that as a Mexican American, I can be a compassionate, dedicated lawyer and a source of guidance and care. Being Hispanic is an honor, and I hope my hard work can shed a positive light on my community and inspire others to reach their own goals.

Please upload a copy of your financial award letter labeled as follows: LastName.FirstName.FinAwardLtr*

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Martinez.Richard.FinAwardLtr.pdf

Please upload a copy of your resume labeled as follows: LastName.FirstName.Resume*

Please upload a copy of your law school transcript labeled as follows: LastName.FirstName.LSTranscript*