Foley Hoag announced that Boston University School of Law student Halla Daoui and Harvard Law School student Jae Jin Lee were selected as the firm's Charles J. Beard Fellowship recipients for 2025. The Fellowship is named in memory of the former Foley Hoag attorney who was the first African American promoted to partner at a major Boston law firm. It is granted to outstanding first-year law students from across the nation.
Beard was renowned for his wisdom, wit and intellect, as well as his belief in the transformative power of education to unlock personal growth and opportunity for young people.
"We are excited that Halla and Jae Jin have joined us this summer as our most recent Beard Fellows," said Foley Hoag Managing Partner Jim Bucking. "The Fellowship is one of many initiatives that the firm has undertaken to develop the next generation of attorneys and leaders at Foley Hoag. These individuals exemplify the values that Charlie Beard represented."
Daoui earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Community Health and Psychology from Eastern Washington University, graduating magna cum laude, and later completed a Master of Public Health at Boston University School of Public Health. Before law school, she built a career at the intersection of clinical research and biotechnology, leading cross-functional projects in clinical development and biotech innovation. Daoui is currently pursuing her Juris Doctor at Boston University School of Law, where she was named an ASPIRE Scholar – an honor recognizing academic achievement, leadership and professional promise.
"I'm happy and honored to receive the Charles J. Beard Fellowship," said Daoui. "The fellowship's legacy of advocacy and excellence speaks to the kind of lawyer I aspire to be. I chose Foley Hoag because I am looking for a place that offers not only a rigorous legal environment but also a genuine commitment to mentorship, inclusion and social responsibility. I look forward to learning from complex cases and contributing to impactful work."
Lee is a rising second-year student at Harvard Law School. During his first year, Lee served as a student advocate for the Tenant Advocacy Project, where he provided dedicated advocacy to public housing tenants throughout the greater Boston area. He earned his B.A. in Political Science and Public Affairs, graduating cum laude from the University of California, Los Angeles. While at UCLA, Lee served as an inaugural board member for the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Pre-Law Society, working to empower the next generation of AAPI law students and legal professionals.
"It is an honor to be selected as a recipient of the Charles J. Beard Fellowship, along with Halla," said Lee. "I hope that my summer experience at Foley Hoag will not only strengthen my legal skills but also help me grow as a compassionate and principled advocate."