The American Bar Association is pleased to be working with the Allen E. Broussard Scholarship Foundation to promote diversity in the legal profession by providing financial assistance to law students.

Justice Allan E. Broussard

Throughout his life, Justice Allen E. Broussard worked diligently to expand opportunities within the legal profession and assist young lawyers in their pursuit of a career in law.

Born in Lake Charles, Louisana in 1929, Allan E. Broussard came to the San Francisco Bay Area with his family as a teenager. He began his years of community service at age 16 while attending San Francisco City College. As President of the City College chapter of the NAACP, Justice Broussard became active in the fight for equal employment opportunities for African-Americans. This experience inspired him to seek a career in the law, and in 1950 he enrolled at Boalt Hall as one of three African-American students.

After graduation, Justice Broussard continued to serve his community as the first African-American research attorney for the First Appellate District. Justice Broussard served two years in the army before joining the law firm of Wilson, Metoyer & Sweeny as an associate and later became a partner at the newly constituted Metoyer, Sweeny & Broussard. In 1964, at the age of 34, Justice Broussard began his 27-year judicial career when Governor Pat Brown appointed him to the Oakland-Piedmont Municipal Court. Justice Broussard was then elevated to the Alameda County Superior Court and finally, the California Supreme Court.

Throughout his life, one of Justice Broussard’s most earnest goals was the diversification of the profession, and much of his work was aimed at making sure all minorities are given the opportunity to rise and "take a place at the table." The Broussard Scholarship is committed to continuing his vision.

The Allen E. Broussard Scholarship

The Allen E. Broussard Scholarship Foundation is committed to the continued pursuit of Justice Broussard’s life long desire to assist minorities in their pursuit of higher education, better job opportunities, and careers in the legal profession. To that end, the Broussard Scholarship Foundation has provided $65,000 in scholarship awards since 1997 and will present an additional scholarship in 2004.

The Broussard Scholarship awards $5,000 of financial assistance annually to the recipient and is the largest private scholarship award for law students attending California Bay Area law schools. The award amount was selected to enable the Broussard Scholarship to assist academically well qualified students from economically deprived backgrounds. Assuming the recipient achieves satisfactory performance in law school, the award may be renewed for an additional two years, resulting in financial assistance totaling $15,000.

Because of a unique partnership with the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund, applicants interested in applying for the Allen E. Broussard Scholarship need to complete only a single application. By completing the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund application, a candidate who plans to attend a California bay area law school will be eligible to receive either scholarship. The application can be found at www.abanet.org/fje. Please note that all applications must be postmarked no later than March 1, 2004.