Harlem Native Honored With Ginsburg Scholarship for Helping Black Women Access Law School
Talia Scott is an alumna of The Young Women’s Leadership School (TYWLS) of Manhattan, the first Young Women’s Leadership School of Student Leadership Network.
By Jennifer Andrus
Originally published in New York State Bar Association on April 7, 2025
The New York State Bar Association honored Harlem native Talia Scott with its prestigious Ruth Bader Ginsburg Memorial Scholarship for her work in creating a fund to help Black women get accepted to law school. Scott inspired a packed House of Delegates meeting in Albany with a stirring acceptance speech that brought members to their feet. She chronicled her path to success and how she is creating opportunities for others that she did not have.
“My life has been defined by defying expectations. Entering the legal profession was more than a career choice. It was a bold declaration of possibility,” she said. “I didn’t grow up surrounded by lawyers. So, I made a choice not just to become what I didn’t see, but to create a pathway, so others wouldn’t have to look as hard to find themselves in the legal profession.”
Diversity has never been the opposite of merit. It’s a reflection of it, expanding who gets a shot doesn’t dilute excellence, it reveals it. — Talia Scott
Scott founded the non-profit Legally BLK Fund, which helps Black women pay for law school application fees, LSAT preparation classes, and travel expenses tied to applying for law school. The fund has given out more than $60,000 in aid to applicants and is expanding to include mentorship and professional development.
