16 Students Receive 2026 Susman Godfrey Prize
Sixteen Yale Law School students have received the 2026 Susman Godfrey Prize, the firm announced on May 20. The prize is awarded annually to students of color from eligible law schools who are finishing their first or second year and have demonstrated academic excellence and overall achievement.
The Law School students are among 25 recipients who receive $5,000 and ongoing mentorship from Susman Godfrey’s partners and associates.
This year’s Law School’s awardees are Farah Afify ’28, Melissa Barales-Lopez ’28, Susana Barragan ’28, Suzanne Castillo ’28, Danna Castro-Galindo ’27, Justin Chock ’27, Shanice Guthrie ’27, Stephanie Lai ’28, Frederick Liu ’27, Shyam Madhani ’27, Uma Menon ’27, Chaka Tellem ’28, Summia Tora ’27, Liz Tran ’27, Trinh Truong ’27, and Kia Turner ’27.
Read the full list of recipients
“These exceptional law students have demonstrated focus, creativity, and, above all, a relentless commitment to excellence — all foundational principles of our firm,” said Susman Godfrey Co-Managing Partner Vineet Bhatia in an announcement. “We are thrilled to celebrate the recipients of the Susman Godfrey Prize, now in its sixth year, and congratulate them for their dedication to the legal community.”
Launched in 2021, awardees are nominated by a law school professor or administrator and initially evaluated based on their resumes, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. After being narrowed down to a group of finalists, winners are selected after interviews by a team of lawyers from Susman Godfrey. This year, the firm expanded the program from 20 to 25 recipients.
