Three aspiring plaintiff trial lawyers receive a total of $45,000 in scholarship awards
BUFFALO, N.Y. – August 20, 2026– Milestone has named Siri Cortez, Chloe Nguyễn and Katherine Ovoioan as the recipients of the 2026 Milestone Trial LawHER Scholarship, awarding a total of $45,000 to support the next generation of women plaintiff trial lawyers.
Cortez, a student at University of South Carolina: School of Law Columbia, received the program’s top award of $25,000. Nguyễn, who attends Duke University, and Ovoioan, a student at Boston College Chestnut Hill, each received $10,000 awards.
The Trial LawHER Scholarship is a national scholarship initiative created by Milestone to support women pursuing careers as plaintiff trial lawyers. This year marked an expansion of the program, with Milestone increasing its top scholarship award to $25,000 and adding two $10,000 awards, bringing the total available funding to $45,000 annually.
“We created the Trial LawHER Scholarship to invest in talented women who want to build careers advocating for people when they need it most,” said John Bair, Founder of Milestone. “Siri, Chloe and Katherine represent the kind of thoughtful, client-focused advocates we want to see shaping the future of the plaintiff bar. We’re proud to support them as they take the next steps in their legal careers.”
Administered through Scholarship America, the Trial LawHER Scholarship is open to qualifying 2L and 3L students enrolled at ABA-accredited law schools who intend to pursue careers as plaintiff trial lawyers. Applicants are evaluated on academic achievement and their commitment to the profession.
The scholarship reflects Milestone’s broader commitment to strengthening the plaintiff bar by creating opportunities for future women leaders and encouraging a client-first approach to legal advocacy.
The 2026 recipients join past Trial LawHER Scholarship winners Julia Di Fiore, Savannah Green, Sabrina Medler and Samara Trilling.
To learn more about the Trial LawHER Scholarship, visit the Milestone Trial LawHER Scholarship page.
About Milestone
Milestone is a settlement services trustee that helps law firms, plaintiffs, and partners navigate post-settlement administration with greater speed, transparency, and care. Through proprietary technology and personalized service, Milestone streamlines complex post-settlement processes to help clients receive funds fast.
About Scholarship America
Scholarship America is the nation’s leading designer and administrator of scholarship, tuition assistance, and educational support programs. Since 1958, the organization has distributed billions of dollars in scholarships to students across the country.
