Two Syracuse University College of Law students have been awarded the inaugural Tully Rinckey Foundation Military Scholarship — a scholarship awarded to law students who have served or are serving in the United States Armed Forces.
First-year law student Tiffany Johnson and third-year Andrew Patterson were awarded the scholarships based on their military experience, how their experience influenced their choice to pursue a legal career and how they plan to utilize the career to benefit other service members, according to a March news release.
Before starting his legal career, Matthew Tully, a founding partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC, served in the U.S. Army for three years as a field artillery officer.
“As an attorney and veteran myself, I can speak first hand to how my military experience positively impacted my legal career,” Tully said in the release. “We are thrilled to award these scholarships to these deserving law students who are balancing law school and military service, and who plan to use their legal careers to assist veterans and the military community.”
Lt. Commander Johnson is finishing her first year at the College of Law while also balancing active military service with the U.S. Navy. Johnson, who comes from a family with a military background, said next month will mark her eleventh year of service.
“I wanted to join (the Navy) because I have a family history of service,” Johnson said. “My aunt, dad and grandfather all served in the army, which makes me the first Navy member from my family.”
As she prepares to enter her second year of law school, Johnson said she is looking forward to the chance to work at the VLC, which is run by Executive Director Elizabeth Kubala.
“I’m part of the Military and Veterans Law Society, and I heard great things about the Veterans Law Clinic. It allows students to actively support veterans in their cases,” Johnson said. “Getting hands-on experience with that is so vital.”