Plunkett Cooney, one of the Midwest’s oldest and most accomplished law firms, recently selected three law school students to receive $2,500 scholarships based on their essay submissions to the firm’s 2025/2026 Laurel F. McGiffert Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Scholarship program.

Michigan State University College of Law students Anabelle Daly — a rising 1L student — and Daria Lindquist – a rising 3L student, as well as Wayne State University Law School student Maggie Simons — a rising 1L student – were selected as this year’s scholarship winners from among the 29 students who submitted an essay.

The firm’s DEI Scholarship Program, which is open to all students attending an accredited law school, is named in honor of the firm’s first DEI Director, the late Laurel F. McGiffert. In addition to a nearly 40-year career as one of Michigan’s most accomplished medical liability and governmental law attorneys, McGiffert received numerous honors and awards for her influence as a lawyer, her professionalism and her dedication to the legal industry.

In reviewing submissions, a three-attorney blind review panel winnowed down the anonymous essays to six finalists based on each author’s response to a prompt about a situation where they confronted their own biases or privileges. Applicants also needed to address how the experience changed their worldview and how they saw the situation impacting their law career. The DEI Committee members then selected the top three winners from the panel’s selections.

Plunkett Cooney’s DEI Committee members work with Ellen Bartman Jannette, the firm’s DEI Director, to coordinate related activities, which include a focus on recruitment, retention, training, mentoring and community involvement. Each year, Plunkett Cooney supports numerous affinity groups, community organizations and law school student organizations.

Established in 1913, Plunkett Cooney is a leading provider of business and litigation services to clients in the private and public sectors. The firm employs attorneys in eight Michigan cities and in Chicago, Illinois, Indianapolis, Indiana and Columbus, Ohio.

Plunkett Cooney has achieved the highest rating (AV) awarded by Martindale-Hubbell, a leading peer review service, as well as recognition by Best Lawyers as one of the nation’s leading law firms.

For more information about the 2025/2026 DEI scholarship winners, members of the media may contact John Cornwell of the firm’s Practice Development Department at (248) 901-4008; jcornwell@plunkettcooney.com.

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