Abigail So Wins 2025 Law Place Law School Scholarship for Essay on Non-Traditional Legal Hero

The Law Place Law School Scholarship, which awards $2,500 to a student who writes about a legal hero's influence on their ambitions, has named Abigail So as its 2025 winner. So, currently a first-year law student at Penn Carey Law, intends to become a transactional attorney but credits her decision to attend law school to a year-long undergraduate research experience with her mentor, Dr. Bermant. Her winning essay revealed that legal heroes can be found outside traditional courtroom settings, highlighting the role of interdisciplinary perspectives in shaping future legal professionals.

So's essay described how she initially approached the research opportunity with reluctance but flourished as Dr. Bermant encouraged her to find a subject of genuine passion. Through exploring Dr. Bermant's own law school experiences, So became deeply engaged with the issue of false admissions of guilt. "I read everything I could find: landmark cases, psychological studies, interrogation transcripts, wrongful conviction stories," So explained. "It was chilling and addictive—this deeply human, deeply legal issue. I quickly learned that false confessions don't happen in a vacuum—they're often the result of long, high-pressure interrogations paired with human vulnerability."

Continuing dialogues with Dr. Bermant led So to consider fundamental questions about the legal system, including what constitutes fair interrogations and whether psychologists should participate in legal reform efforts. According to So, the most significant question Dr. Bermant posed was what she planned to do with the knowledge she had acquired. "His questions became my calling," So stated. "He lit the flame and kept it burning with every conversation…Dr. Bermant became more than a mentor—he became my hero. Not because he stood in a courtroom or wrote landmark opinions, but because he showed me that the law isn't just about rules. It's about people. It's about psychology, power, vulnerability, and truth. And it's about asking the questions no one else thinks to ask."

The scholarship selection recognizes So as part of a new generation of legal professionals who bring fresh perspectives to the industry. Her focus on critical thinking and systemic improvement suggests a promising career trajectory. The Law Place, a Florida-based firm, expressed enthusiasm about supporting So's educational journey through the financial award. More information about The Law Place and its services can be found at https://www.thelawplace.com. The firm's commitment to legal education through this scholarship program underscores the importance of nurturing diverse viewpoints within the legal field, particularly those that bridge law with other disciplines like psychology.

This recognition highlights how mentorship outside conventional legal environments can significantly influence career paths and professional focus areas. So's experience demonstrates that inspiration for legal careers can emerge from academic research and interdisciplinary exploration rather than solely from courtroom exposure. The scholarship's emphasis on legal heroes—whether inside or outside traditional practice—acknowledges the varied influences that shape aspiring lawyers' approaches to justice, fairness, and systemic reform.