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HomePatricia Murphy Coleman Memorial Paralegal Scholarship
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Patricia Murphy Coleman Memorial Scholarship
DEADLINE TO APPLY 10/24/2025

 


Since 1972, the Illinois Paralegal Association (IPA) has been a leading voice for paralegals in Illinois.  The IPA exists because of our founders’ efforts and the many IPA members who have given their time and talents to make the IPA the organization it is today.

IIn February of 2017, the paralegal field lost one of its champions, Patricia Murphy Coleman. Pat was the first paralegal at Vedder Price where she retired in 2010. She served as President of the IPA from 1986-1988, held many other offices in the organization, and created the IPA’s quarterly publication Outlook. She received the Local Leader of the Year Award from the National Federation of Paralegal Associations and the IPA Lifetime Achievement Award. Those who knew her best will tell you she was a model of professionalism and dedication to the paralegal field. The IPA began offering a scholarship for paralegal students in 2019, and we feel that naming this scholarship after one of the IPA's most significant leaders is a fitting tribute.  

Each year, the IPA sells scholarship pins for $10 to raise funds for the scholarship, with every dollar received going to the scholarship fund.  At the Paralegal Day event that takes place in the Fall, the recipient(s) of the award(s) is/are announced and presented with the scholarship certificate(s).
 
Through its fundraising efforts and with the help of our generous sponsors, the IPA is excited to offer $1,000 in scholarship(s) this year.

What can you do?
  • If you are a paralegal student and would like more information on the scholarship, email IPA@ipaonline.org.
  • If you are a vendor partner and would like more information on sponsoring the scholarship pin, email IPA@ipaonline.org.
  • If you would like to make a monetary donation to the scholarship fund, email IPA@ipaonline.org.
  • If you would like to purchase a pin, email IPA@ipaonline.org.
Details for the 2025 Scholarship, including the application, can be found here.

Thank you in advance for your support.