Richmond Law Dean Wendy Perdue reflects on the impact of scholarships for aspiring lawyers

UR School of Law Dean Wendy Perdue knows first-hand the impact a scholarship can have — she benefited from one herself while attending Duke University School of Law.
 
“My scholarship allowed me to worry less about money and focus more on my education,” she said. “It’s a privilege that I wish were available to each of our students.”
 
Her desire to make a Richmond Law education afford-able and accessible to students in need inspired Perdue to create the Dean’s Opportunity Scholarship Fund in 2019. She and her husband, David Perdue, established the fund with a generous $100,000 gift.
 
“Dave and I come from families who valued education and emphasized the importance of supporting education- al institutions,” Perdue said. “Our mothers were very active in raising money for their alma maters, so we internalized an expectation that as our resources allowed, we should provide support to the institutions that are important to us.”
 
The Perdues continue to support the fund annually. Their generosity has drawn the attention of alumni and friends who are eager to invest in legal education, and together, donors have contributed more than $2.8 million to the initiative.
 
Dean’s Opportunity Scholars are selected based on a combination of financial need, academic excellence, perseverance in the face of adversity, and potential for leadership in the profession. A gift of $10,000 per year for three years, or $30,000 total, sponsors a Scholar. To date, 40 students have been sponsored, including first-year law student Jada Smith.
 
“As a student who is underrepresented in the legal field, receiving this scholarship represents both an investment in my future and recognition of the determination and grit required to enter a profession where few lawyers look like me,” Smith said. “Without this financial support, my goal of becoming an attorney would not be possible. This scholarship is a reminder that my voice and presence matter.”
 
As Perdue prepares to step down as dean at the end of the 2025-26 academic year, she hopes that Law School supporters will respond to the evolving needs of today’s students.
 
“I have been thrilled to see the response to this initiative,” she said. “Hopefully this level of support will continue because, with recent changes in federal financial aid policies, I expect to see an even greater need for student support. I would like to be able to assure every admitted student that they can afford a Richmond Law education.”

Changes to Graduate Student Aid 

Recent federal policy changes have limited the amount that graduate students can borrow to fund their education. While UR School of Law is committed to maintaining its status as having one of the lowest private tuitions among the nation’s top law schools, nearly a quarter of Richmond Law students will not be able to afford their tuition without additional financial aid. The Dean’s Opportunity Scholarship Fund will play an important role in meeting this need. Learn more about making a difference for future students.

Dean’s Opportunity Scholarship Fund: By the Numbers

• $2.8 million raised since 2019
• 40 students supported
• 94 donors, including 62 alumni and 16 faculty/staff
• 32 gifts of $100 or less