Law firm owners and partners Larry Schaefer and Toni Halleen of Schaefer Halleen, LLC, are fierce advocates for victims of discrimination and illegal workplace conduct. Their decades of experience in the field of employment law has shown them the importance of fiercely advocating for justice. Because of its focus on advocating for justice, Schaefer Halleen is pleased to offer one scholarship each year to students who are committed to advocating for and advancing justice for all.
Meet Your Benefactors
Lawrence P. Schaefer – Over the course of his long and often ground-breaking career, Larry Schaefer has taken on some of the largest and most powerful companies in the country, helping tens of thousands of people recover damages suffered as a result of illegal corporate conduct. Larry has earned the respect of judges and other lawyers for his thorough and aggressive client advocacy in negotiation and litigation. He focuses exclusively on representing people who have been subject to employment discrimination at work.
Toni L. Halleen – Toni practiced employment law for many years, helping companies prevent discrimination and comply with legal requirements to improve the workplace. She is now the co-owner and Chief Operating Officer of Schaefer Halleen, helping to run the firm so that the team of lawyers and staff can effectively advocate for victims in matters of employment discrimination, retaliation, and other employment matters.
Larry and Toni have dedicated their careers to empowering clients and seeking justice in response to illegal workplace conduct, such as discrimination based on race, religion, gender and other areas. They look forward to seeing the next generation of students studying advocacy and anti-discrimination meet future challenges in their own unique ways. By offering a scholarship to students pursuing a career supporting the advancement of justice, Larry and Toni hope to support the leaders of tomorrow.
Eligibility Requirements
The award is granted one time per year. All are welcome to apply. Applicants must:
- Be accepted into an accredited college or law school in the United States, and
- Be interested in pursuing a degree that supports gender, religious, or racial justice, or any accredited program that advances the pursuit of justice for all people.
Award
The scholarship provides a $1,000 award annually. The award recipient will be notified of their selection by July 31st, 2025.
Scholarship Deadline
The current scholarship deadline is June 30th, 2025 for Fall Semester.
Submission Information
To apply, please complete the online application below. All application materials must be received by the deadline to be considered for the scholarship. Awards will be announced by August 31st (for Fall Semester 2025).
Disclaimer
Any taxes on scholarships are the responsibility of the award recipient. By accepting the scholarship, the winner agrees to allow Schaefer Halleen to use their name and essay to announce the award. The Schaefer Halleen Social Equity Scholarship is non-renewable and former recipients are not eligible to receive an additional award. The scholarship is provided by Schaefer Halleen. Click here to learn more about Schaefer Halleen’s areas of client services.
Scholarship Recipients
Spring 2024 Scholarship Winner: Breeze Velazquez
When I was a little girl, my uncle filled the void of a father. He would take me on weekend picnics with his own kids and house me and my mami for the months we couldn’t pay rent. One evening, as I peered out the front window, clutching my pink Hello Kitty strap purse, and waited for his pickup, no one came. Instead, my aunt frantically called. My uncle, who was not documented, had been deported. The night that followed is branded into my memories: my aunt showing up with my half-asleep baby cousins; my sister’s desperate calls to find legal service; my mami’s tears. She was undocumented too.
Fall 2023 Scholarship Winner: Maarya Ibrahim
“Am I allowed to say?” For a moment, I held the phone to my ear, twisting its cord around my finger. The Egyptian American woman’s thick Arabic accent came through the other end. In the span of the last 10 minutes, I have learned everything about a woman I have never met. She has two young sons, her funds are restricted, and her husband has limited her communication. Soon, following her timid question, she will identify herself as a victim of domestic violence. It was one of the first calls I took when I started my position as a screener at Bay Area Legal Services, and one that remains ingrained in my memory. I prepared to use our shared native language to assure her that gender inequity, which both of us experienced culturally, does not have to persist. That with the right legal aid, things will be different. I opened my mouth, but the words refused to form. Her hesitancy became my own. I was no hero; how could I promise change for her and the thousands of women around the world who faced the same situation?”
Fall 2022 Scholarship Winner: Nathnael Alazar
“One of the most integral parts of my youth was spending time with the person who motivated me to enter public service: my father. Despite growing up in war-torn Ethiopia, my father committed to becoming a medical doctor and serving those in need. However, his eyesight soon deteriorated. He was diagnosed with an untreatable macular degeneration, effectively ending his medical career. As my father worked fast food and caregiver jobs, he remained disappointed that he could not help more people by providing care as he did in Ethiopia.”
