A gift to this fund provides much-needed support for student financial aid and scholarships within the College of Law.
University of Nebraska–Lincoln second-year law student Caden Erickson never expected he would dream of being a lawyer.
Erickson grew up in Holdrege, Nebraska, where his family has a farm. Erickson knew he didn’t have an interest in farming, which led his family to consult a lawyer on the future of their business.
Through the family’s consultation, Erickson’s eyes were opened to an entirely new side of the business. Although confused during the conversation, his interest in learning more grew — helping his family gain clearer insight into the direction their farm was heading.
“I decided to go to law school for that reason,” Erickson said. “So that I could give back to the agricultural part of the state … I think helping people understand was my motivation to go to law school.”
Erickson had a clear vision for the type of lawyer he wanted to be. It all came back to his rural Nebraska roots and the passion he held for helping his family.
“There are two parts of the job; there’s the first part, which is what’s the best path forward for my client. That’s the part that I think a lot of lawyers do well,” Erickson said. “I think sometimes we can neglect the second part of our job, which is explaining to the client what we are doing.”
While rigorously studying with a vision of going to law school in the future, Erickson was unsure of where he would attend after graduating from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. This all changed when he got a call about a scholarship while in the library working on a lengthy paper.
“A scholarship boosted my reasons to go to Nebraska,” Erickson said. “I wouldn't have to worry about what my paycheck was going to look like right after school because I wouldn't have to worry about paying back a bunch of debt to go to UNL.”
The fear of taking on student loans often holds many individuals back from pursuing further education, as uncertainty about repaying that debt can hinder their professional journey.
“I don’t have to make my [job] selection based on the paycheck,” Erickson said. “For people who are looking to work for nonprofits or government work especially, these scholarships are massive for them.”
Thanks to the N Fund – College of Law Scholarship Erickson received, he can fully dedicate himself to his studies and his goal of becoming a lawyer who can simplify complex legal issues for families like his own.
“I thank donors for the opportunity to go to school and not have to worry about financial responsibilities and can attend a school with so many other driven and ambitious people,” Erickson said. “I think one of the things that makes Nebraska great is the financial aspect of it. Nebraska draws a bunch of really practical-minded people, people who aren’t necessarily so focused on the prestige of law school but are dedicated to helping people.”
Your support of the College of Law Scholarship Fund can provide students with opportunities that can change their lives. By donating today, you help pave the way for future legal professionals like Caden Erickson, who are committed to making a difference in their communities.
