Somach Simmons & Dunn established the Paul S. Simmons Legacy Scholarship upon the 2025 retirement of co-founding shareholder, Paul S. Simmons.  The firm will award a $5,000 scholarship in 2026 to a student directing his or her studies to issues at the intersection of water resources, environmental law, and agriculture.

Criteria: A rising third-year day or fourth-year evening division student enrolled at UC Davis or McGeorge Law School who demonstrates a commitment to water resources and environmental advocacy in the agriculture arena.  Demonstrated academic excellence, leadership ability, and good academic standing required.  Financial need not a criterion.

To Apply: Submit a résumé (including current contact information), transcript, one letter of recommendation, and a one-page, single-spaced personal statement explaining how you meet the scholarship criteria. Somach Simmons & Dunn will evaluate each application and will select the recipient in its sole discretion.

Application Deadline: Applications must be received by June 30, 2026.  Scholarships will be awarded by August 1, 2026. Applications must be emailed to: scholarship@somachlaw.com.

For more information, contact Aaron Ferguson, scholarship@somachlaw.com.

About Paul Simmons

Paul Simmons is a Somach Simmons & Dunn founder who retired from the practice of law in 2025 after a long and successful career in the fields of water and environmental law that not only earned him a national reputation as a lawyer, but the admiration of his law partners, clients and the Western water law community.

Paul’s interest in agriculture is rooted in his farm upbringing in northwest Missouri. His journey as a lawyer started with degrees from Grinnell College and Cornell Law School and grew into the representation of numerous public agency and private clients in regulatory matters and litigation in connection with water rights, the Endangered Species Act, federal and state water quality laws, and other environmental matters. For much of his career, he was closely associated with his representation of Klamath Project contractors in the ongoing Klamath River Basin adjudication where he sought to protect and maintain water supplies for agricultural irrigation. He also represented the Klamath Water Users Association in water rights and regulatory matters concerning the Klamath Project and in negotiations related to the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement. Prior to retiring, he was admitted to practice law in New York, California and Oregon and was a sought-after writer and speaker.

Although retired, Paul’s affinity for water and environmental law continues. The firm hopes to inspire and support future generations of scholars and practitioners in these fields. Accordingly, the firm has established the Paul S. Simmons Legacy Scholarship to honor water resources and environmental advocacy and provide financial assistance to law students with a demonstrated interest in these fields.