Kaycee Miller, a second-year student, was awarded the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Chicago Law Student Scholarship Award. Miller was honored at FALA Chicago’s first-ever Virtual Soiree on February 10.
“It is a great honor to receive this scholarship,” Miller said. “FALA is committed to creating a network of law students and attorneys who share similar experiences and challenges during law school. This scholarship gave me an opportunity to receive help as they (FALA members) had experienced the same hardships. I applied for the scholarship because I receive no outside assistance and affording law school is completely my responsibility.”
In order to qualify for the scholarship, applicants must be enrolled in law school in Illinois, be a member of FALA Chicago and be committed to carrying out and advancing FALA Chicago’s mission. Applicants must also submit a current resume and answer a series of questions.
In addition to being a member of FALA, Miller currently serves as a research and teaching assistant for the Law School, as event coordinator for the American Constitution Society UIC John Marshall Law School Chapter and works as a judicial extern for the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court. Miller was also a student in the Pro Bono Litigation Clinic and a moot court competitor. In her spare time, Miller runs a nonprofit, called Generation Now, with two of her law school colleagues, Alejandra Barrios and Gabriela Heizer. Generation Now aims to speak at intermediate, secondary and higher education schools on the possibilities of post-graduate opportunities. The foundation seeks to empower students through a community of first-generation students who all share the same challenges, despite different backgrounds.
The Filipino American Lawyers Association of Chicago is a professional network of attorneys, judges, law students and supporters that facilitates career development, learning opportunities and fellowship within the Chicagoland legal community. FALA provides access to colleagues across numerous practice areas and their related organizations, including law firms and corporations of all sizes, non-profits and public sector employers. This network consists of attorneys, who share similar experiences and have encountered unique challenges during law school and in practice today.
For those interested in applying for future FALA Chicago scholarships, Miller recommends students make sure to read all of the communications they receive from the Association. “Keep a lookout for emails from FALA,” Miller said. “They have many opportunities for scholarships, but they also offer opportunities for networking, attending events and connecting with fellow members. It is an amazing organization to be a part of.”
