Support David while he prepares for the Bar Exam

Last summer, I had the privilege of working with Seattle University School of Law to conduct mock interviews with students from underrepresented backgrounds. I met with about 6 students in total. While I was inspired by all of their stories, one particular candidate stood out--David Armstead. I have had the privilege of remaining in contact with David since our meeting in August of 2021 and watching him pursue his dream of obtaining a law degree and create a path that was riddled with barriers for his family before him. Originally from the California Bay Area, David has seen his fair share of struggles in and outside of law school. David was homeless prior to law school. Coming to Seattle University School of Law, not only offered David an opportunity to pursue his dream of becoming an advocate, it also was the first time since 2015 he had a stable home. I am so happy to announce that David will be graduating from Seattle University School of Law this May and will be taking the California Bar Exam this July 2022.

While David’s living situation has changed for the better due to his hard work and perseverance, he has nonetheless faced struggles, above and beyond the struggles that many students experienced in pursuit of higher education during a pandemic. David suffers from Ulcerative Colitis. This chronic illness has, on several occasions, left David in need of several blood transfusions and medical procedures. During his second year of Law School, David became anemic and was, again, in need of transfusions, and while still in the midst of the Pandemic. David was forced to return to California to receive medical treatment.

David was grateful that he could rely on student loans and emergency funds provided to him by Seattle U while in California as the financial aid helped David to shoulder the cost of housing while receiving medical treatment and allowed him to recover and return to Seattle U in time for finals after being away from school for five weeks. However, as he is nearing graduation, the weight of that debt from his past medical issues, is feeling heavier with the anticipated costs of preparing for the bar while also shouldering the (now exorbitant) costs of rent, food, and transportation while he studies for the July 2022 California Bar Exam. While studying for the bar, David will need to devote 35 to 40 hours a week of studying to be in good position to pass and is hoping to purchase materials to help him study, if not be able to afford a prep class. My role as the chair of the diversity, equity and inclusion committee has taught me just how much racial disparities impact bar exam results. The stark racial disparities have been noted for years, but nothing has been done to remedy this injustice. Scholars have attributed them to the exam’s design. Its focus on memorization, for example, requires at least two months of full-time, intensive cramming. Many candidates also purchase expensive prep courses to learn exam-taking strategies. Candidates of color are less likely to have the financial resources to support this preparation.

I was lucky that I was able to take two weeks off work to dedicate to my bar exam studies. I remember a friend before me warned, "you have to treat it like a full time job and study 8 hours per day all summer." I was aghast, how would I work and study? Luckily, I had family to support me so I could take time off work and study and to purchase the expensive bar material practice guides. David is a promising future lawyer, and I know he is a great investment. I am calling on anyone who can help, in any way, big or small, to help shoulder the costs he will endure on top of those he has already shouldered paying to take register and take the bar exam. He appreciates all donations of any amount. The bar exam is $685. A studio in the bay area is $2000 to $3000 per month. Study guides and programs vary from $50 to $80 for a book to hundreds of dollars for an actual prep course. He knows he will do this one way or another, and I am confident he will, but I would love to eliminate as much stress as possible and facilitate as much dedicated learning hours as possible. David is unequivocally worth it!