2022 Law School Scholarship Winner

Regan Osborn
The University of Virginia School of Law

Eskew Law 2022 Law School Scholarship Contest Essay

During college, I researched the racial disparities in the American correctional system,the protection of white interests in society, and the censorship of race-related topics in education.This exposure has heightened my desire to give a voice to those who are systematically silencedand has shown me that lawyers, in their ability to advocate for individuals and ideas, have theopportunity and the responsibility to combat systemic inequality/racism in society. As anattorney, I hope to advocate for change in the way the legal system approaches racialdiscrimination. For example, McCleskey v. Kemp (1987), states that statistical data showingracial discrimination is not sufficient to warrant a case’s reevaluation under the FourthAmendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Consequently, it prevents America’s history of systemicracism in the criminal justice system from being admitted into evidence. In doing this, the Courteliminates a large part of the appellant’s already very limited ability to offer proof of raciallydiscriminatory intent.

Furthermore, because direct proof of racial discrimination is rarely available in this eradue to the use of race-neutral language, this burden makes it nearly impossible to win a case’sreevaluation under the Equal Protection Clause. However, if the Court were to reevaluate andpermit historical/statistical data to be used as evidence that racial discrimination does impactindividual cases, it would become possible to prove racially discriminatory intent and wouldoffer everyone, even the historically discriminated against, equal protection under the law. Iaspire to use my career to advocate for such change because it is not enough to simply advocatefor legislation geared towards furthering equality in society; we must also actively break downthe old rulings that continue to oppose it. Thus, because the legal field will allow me to join thosecommitted to creating a more equitable world, there is nowhere else I would rather be.

Attending UVA Law will allow me to learn the skills necessary to become a fierceadvocate for legal change. While in school, I hope to get involved with the Center of Race andLaw and the Appellate Litigation Clinic. Both programs focus on oral and written advocacy andoffer exceptional opportunities to improve critical skills. After law school, I hope to work for alitigation group focused on substantive issues such as racial discrimination in sentencing,prisoners’ rights, and fair housing practices. As an attorney in my local community, I hope tofoster positive change by hosting accessible record expungement consultations, know-your-rightspresentations, and even neighborhood meet-a-cop experiences. These events will help combatthe structural inequality, generational poverty, and racism prevalent in my community. I want tobecome a lawyer so I can change the narrative that systemic racism does not affect or exist in thelegal system. Those victimized by social reproduction, stereotypes, and our occasionallyapathetic legal system deserve nothing less.