Elizabeth’s Winning Essay:
I want to pursue a career as a criminal defense attorney because I have a passion for upholding constitutional rights and I know how desperately criminal defense services are needed. When I started working as a receptionist and assistant for a criminal defense attorney, I was exposed to the reality of the field and what the day-to-day work looks like. During my employment, I listened to clients’ needs and took notes during initial meetings with the attorney, and this exposed me to the overwhelming need for help ensuring people’s rights to the Fifth and Sixth Amendments. Hearing the stories of people facing the criminal justice system, especially the indigent clients we had to turn away, inspired me and empowered me to pursue this field when I entered law school.
One of the main reasons criminal defense interests me is because of how great the need is for attorneys who will take public defender cases. There’s a backlog of over 12,000 felony cases in Wisconsin because there isn’t enough representation for all the defendants. A class action was filed in 2022 to attempt to address this deficit, Brown County case number 2022-CV-001027, but it hasn’t made much progress. It pains me to see that so many people are lost, confused, and unable to get the help they need after months of waiting and asking. I have overwhelming compassion for each unique situation those facing criminal charges, and with more education, I hope that I can make a considerable difference improving this in my state.
Receiving this scholarship would help me accomplish my goals of serving my community by allowing me to do unpaid internships over the summer breaks. With my financial needs met, I can learn and volunteer for organizations that are unable to pay students — organizations that do important work for the disadvantaged. Although I could find a paid internship position over the summer, I would prefer to help those in my community who can’t pay me because their need is so much greater. I have already submitted applications for internships with the Public Defender’s Office and the Innocence Project here in Madison, and I’m hopeful I can work with these important organizations over the summer.
I love the community I grew up in, and I want to help them with my unique skills and experience as an attorney. My goal isn’t to impact the legal community by becoming a judge or performing cutting-edge research; I want to advocate for the average person and provide services that are the backbone of our field. I love that I’ve chosen a career path where I will never stop learning and always have the opportunity to help the people I grew up around. My education will give me the tools and the certification to help people around me in a way few others can, and I can’t wait to start doing this work as soon as possible.
Apply for the Fall 2026 Sieben Edmunds Miller Criminal Justice Scholarship
Are you pursuing a career in criminal justice and looking for financial support to help further your education? The attorneys at Sieben Edmunds Miller are now accepting applications for the Fall 2026 Criminal Justice Scholarship. This biannual, national, needs-based scholarship awards $1,000 to an undergraduate or law student committed to a future in the criminal justice field.
Applications for the Fall 2026 scholarship are due by June 30, 2026, and the recipient will be announced by the end of the summer. If you meet the eligibility requirements, we encourage you to apply and share this opportunity with other deserving students.
Learn more about the scholarship and submit your application today.
