Paulson & Nace Congratulates Dimitri Vallejo, This Year’s Scholarship Recipient!

Paulson & Nace, PLLC would like to issue a heartfelt “Congratulations!” to this year’s recipient of the Barry J. Nace Pursuit of Justice Scholarship, Dimitri Vallejo! Mr. Vallejo will begin his first year of studies at Columbia Law School this Fall, with an expected graduation date of 2026.

Mr. Vallejo impressed us in countless ways with this application and essay. He has struggled with life-threatening medical conditions since he was a child, but his grit and perseverance through hardship is an inspiration. While earning his B.A. in History and Political Science at Columbia University, he interned at the New York Peace Institute and served as Research Assistant to the Director of the Center for Ancient Mediterranean, an interdepartmental initiative at the University. He also served as a Model Diplomacy Research Intern for the Council on Foreign Relations, an independent, non-partisan organization focused on providing resources regarding foreign policy choices. Mr. Vallejo was the editor-in-chief for the Columbia Journal of History, the Senior Editor of the Columbia Political Review, and the Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Columbia Undergraduate History Council. He is the first-ever student in Columbia’s History Department to submit his Honors Senior Thesis before his final year, which we think speaks to his work ethic and his commitment.

Since graduating, he’s run the Enhanced Transaction and Media Screenings team at UBS, and is currently an SEO Fellow at Proskauer Rose.

Mr. Vallejo’s deep interest in history, politics, and foreign affairs, combined with his personal experience with America’s healthcare industry – and especially with insurance companies – has made him especially cognizant of how people can suffer needlessly because of systemic wrongs. As he put it in his application essay:

I believe our society is capable of far more than preserving a status quo that uses demographics to systematically reject human rights. We can realize justice. My goal to promote impartial humanitarianism and banish unnecessary suffering motivates me toward a career as a public interest attorney. Facing death gave me a choice: either yield to adversity or reframe my affliction as an opportunity. I choose the latter: to interpret my condition as a lens for seeing a broken system and using my unique perspective to amplify those who need a voice. I will not ignore my social responsibility to help rectify unjust third options.

The country – the world – needs warriors like Dimitri Vallejo. And we are very, very proud to play a small role in helping him achieve his dream of becoming a public interest lawyer. We’ve no doubt that he has a bright future ahead of him, and that we will see more of this extraordinary young man in the future.

About the Barry J. Nace “Pursuit of Justice” Scholarship

Barry J. Nace (1944-2021) founded Paulson & Nace, PLLC more than 40 years ago. His work on behalf of injury and malpractice victims literally changed the way law is practiced. His pursuit of justice led to groundbreaking cases and landmark decisions regarding the rights of plaintiffs in civil trials.

To honor his legacy, and to help encourage new and aspiring lawyers to continue fighting the good fight on behalf of those in need, the Barry J. Nace “Pursuit of Justice” Scholarship provides $3,000 to a law student who is enrolling, or is currently enrolled, in an accredited university, college, or law school. To learn more about the scholarship or to apply for the 2024 scholarship, please review the application process here.