Norman J. Blears Memorial Fund
The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley greatly benefited from the time and talent of Norman J. Blears, a respected lawyer, devoted husband and father and former Law Foundation board member of 20 years.
After we lost Norm in November 2020, many who knew him and witnessed his commitment to the Law Foundation came together to support a project that will inspire future generations of legal aid lawyers. Among the key initiatives Norm supported was one special to him: his vision of bolstering career growth at the Law Foundation by creating a permanent, summer intern program.
The Norman J. Blears Memorial Fund will provide paid summer internships for up to three law students annually. By supporting aspiring lawyers, promoting public interest law, and by advancing race equity in our community, we hope to honor Norm’s memory and commitment to justice.
About the Opportunity
Summer interns are assigned to each of the Law Foundation’s three programs: Children & Youth, Health, and Housing, where they primarily assist with research and writing, including drafting letters and briefs, and client intake. Interns receive valuable exposure to a large and vibrant legal aid organization in the Law Foundation, and work closely with experienced attorneys and advocates. They form close ties with fellow interns, and return to their respective schools better prepared for a career in law.
The Norman J. Blears Memorial Fund began supporting interns in the summer of 2022 with seed funding from generous individual donors.
A campaign goal of this size will allow us to invest the funds appropriately and gain enough in interest over time to ensure that the program can exist for decades to come. We look forward to working with Norm’s family, colleagues and friends to bring this vision to life.
How to contribute:
For donations involving donor-advised funds, stock gifts, or individual gifts over $10,000, please contact our Development department at development@lawfoundation.org.
Norman J. Blears, 1955-2020
Norm had a long and storied career as a lawyer and trusted advisor, making profound and valued contributions to the legal community and beyond. He was born in Jamestown, New York, attended Denison University in Ohio, and went on to receive his law degree from Stanford University. Norm represented individuals and corporations from start-ups to Fortune 50 companies, helping them with legal challenges they faced in building and sustaining their businesses as they brought new technologies, including life-saving medical treatments, to market.
In 2000, Norm was honored by the Santa Clara County Bar Association as Professional Lawyer of the Year, and was ranked year after year as among the very best lawyers in “bet the company” litigation by Chambers, The Legal 500, Best Lawyers in America and other publications.
In addition to his friends and colleagues at the Law Foundation, Norm leaves behind his wonderful and devoted wife, Nancy, two daughters and their husbands, and two grandchildren.