June 12, 2024 – (MONTGOMERY, Ala.) – Two outstanding law school students have been selected as recipients of the 2024 Justice Janie L. Shores Scholarships. The scholarship was established by the Women’s Section of the Alabama State Bar in honor of the first female Alabama Supreme Court Justice and is administered annually with the assistance of the Alabama Law Foundation. Hannah Hart is a student at Jones School of Law and Sandy Kimble is a student at Birmingham School of Law.

The Justice Janie L. Shores Scholarship is awarded to one or more female Alabama residents attending an Alabama law school.  

“The Women’s Section is proud to be able to award scholarships to deserving women law students in Alabama,” said Jennifer B. Bates, Chair of the Women’s Section of the Alabama State Bar. “These scholarships help our recipients pursue successful legal careers and become leaders in the profession and in the communities they serve. The attorneys in the Women’s Section look forward to working with Ms. Hart and Ms. Kimble in the future. They have the potential to do great things in the spirit of the attorney after whom the scholarship is named, Justice Janie L. Shores, the first female Alabama Supreme Court Justice.”

Hannah Hart earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 2021. While majoring in Biology and double minoring in Spanish and Criminal Justice, Hart played on the varsity softball team and was a member of various organizations. She is also a published author for her microbiology research with novel biofilm.

Hart is a rising 3L at Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. She has been an active member of various organizations at Jones. Hannah now serves as the President of the Women’s Legal Society. She also is a softball instructor where she mentors young softball players. Hart plans to pursue her legal career practicing intellectual property law.

Kimble graduated from the University of Alabama (UAB) with a degree in psychology but says she knew that wasn’t her path. While working at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBSAL), she heard the company needed people in the Information Technology department to assist with the year 2000 (Y2K) project. Computer programming had been an interest of hers for years, so she applied for the position, got it, and is now the Lead Senior System Analyst at BCBSAL, where she has worked for more than 33 years.

However, she knew there was still more she wanted to do. In 2022, she entered law school at Birmingham School of Law and is having a successful law school career. She is a proud member of the Judge Hugh Locke Honor Society and Vice President of the Black Law Students Association. She is excited to say the law is her future.

The Alabama Law Foundation administers three law school scholarship funds to help the next generation of lawyers. They are the Justice Janie L. Shores Scholarship, the Cabaniss Johnston Scholarship, and the W. Verbon Black Scholarship. Additionally, the Kids’ Chance Scholarship Fund helps the children of injured workers attend college.

“Providing scholarships to help students on their path to becoming a lawyer is one of the most rewarding things we do,” said Dawn Hathcock, Executive Director of the Alabama Law Foundation. “Justice Janie L. Shores Scholarship recipients have the vision for growing the profession into the future and will help ensure access to justice remains within reach for all who need legal help.”

Scholarships are awarded annually. For applications and deadlines, visit our Scholarships page.