After graduating from Cal with a double major in political science and rhetoric in 1982, Walter Brown went straight to law school and has been practicing law for the past 40 years. While he has supported UC Berkeley in various ways since then, he realized last year that he wanted to give back more meaningfully.
Brown and his wife, Denise, decided to create a $100,000 fund for first-generation pre-law students through the Social Sciences Career Readiness Internship Program (SSCRIP).
“I've supported the university for decades, but not to the degree I'd like. I've provided financial support; I've done some mentoring; and I've been a guest speaker or lecturer in the law school,” he said. “But as I've advanced in my career, I wanted to get more engaged and contribute more thoughtfully. That's what this is about.”
Khatharya Um, a Berkeley Social Sciences associate dean and Ethnic Studies professor, who leads the program said: "We are so grateful for this generous gift because SSCRIP was born of our alumni's desire to create opportunities for the next generation. We took that commitment and ran with it, and our alumni have been and continue to be critical partners in all aspects of the program.”
Growing up, Brown said he had exposure to and insight into the legal profession because his older brother was a practicing lawyer. This helped guide his own journey to law school and the profession. Over the course of his career, Brown observed the challenges aspiring lawyers face when they have no prior exposure to the profession. This is particularly true with first-generation students.
“I wanted to be able to provide an opportunity for people who didn't necessarily have the access I had to understand the profession -- mentoring, guidance, training and opportunities,” he said.
SSCRIP will use the funds for students pursuing law-related internships in the U.S. and abroad. The fund will cover airfare, housing, food and distribution of stipends between March and August.
Students in SSCRIP gain real-world experience and learn professional skills through a series of workshops, personalized coaching and internship opportunities. The year-long program is available to Social Sciences students, with first-generation, transfer and financial aid eligible students particularly encouraged to apply.
“Only in its second year, we are already hearing about the transformative impact of SCCRIP and we owe that success to alumni such as the Browns who help make it possible,” Um said.
