New Initiative Connects Civic Engagement, Law and Policy Learning, and Career Exploration

LSAC-funded project will develop a Toolkit aligned with the California State Seal of Civic Engagement, helping students explore law, public policy, advocacy, and public service careers.

Street Law, Inc. and the California Legal Pathways Collaborative (CLPC) have launched the Law and Policy Capstone Initiative, a new project that helps California high school students connect civic engagement, law-related learning, and career exploration. The initiative, funded by a grant from the Law School Admission Council, Inc. (LSAC), will support the development of a Law and Policy Capstone Toolkit aligned with the California State Seal of Civic Engagement.

The California State Seal of Civic Engagement recognizes students who demonstrate excellence in civic education and participation. To earn the Seal, students engage in informed civic activities that address real-world issues, investigate community needs, take meaningful action, and reflect on the impact of their efforts. California is one of a growing number of states offering civic seals and other forms of civic recognition that encourage students to demonstrate civic knowledge and engagement. Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and other states have adopted similar programs.

As schools work to support students pursuing the California State Seal of Civic Engagement and completing required capstones, educators need resources that help students connect civic action to real-world issues, public policy, and future career pathways. The Law and Policy Capstone Initiative addresses this need by developing a classroom-ready Toolkit that provides teachers with instructional materials, implementation tools, and practical guidance for designing law- and policy-focused capstone projects. The Toolkit will enable students to use law and public policy as the foundation for meaningful civic engagement while fulfilling capstone requirements and earning the California State Seal of Civic Engagement.

The Toolkit will support students in identifying community needs, analyzing challenges through a law and public policy lens, developing civic action projects, and presenting evidence-based recommendations to local decision-makers. Students will gain a deeper understanding of how laws and public policies shape their communities, while exploring careers in law, public policy, advocacy, public service, and other law-related fields.

“Civic engagement can be a powerful entry point to understanding law, public policy, and public service,” said Ashok Regmi, CEO of Street Law. “By helping students investigate community challenges and develop solutions, this initiative not only strengthens civic learning but also opens the door to careers that many young people may never have considered.”

The initiative advances Street Law’s mission to empower people to positively transform their world through civic and law-related education. For more than 50 years, Street Law has helped educators engage students in meaningful learning about law and government through practical, experiential programs and resources. Drawing on this expertise, Street Law is uniquely positioned to help schools strengthen civic action projects by connecting them to legal systems, public policy, and career pathways.

The Law and Policy Capstone Initiative combines Street Law’s expertise in civic and law-related education with CLPC’s deep connections to California’s legal pathways community. During the 2026-27 school year, Street Law will lead the design and development of the Toolkit, while CLPC will ensure the toolkit is responsive to school contexts and existing pathway structures, as well as alignment through its statewide network of law academies, educators, legal professionals, and public sector stakeholders. At the end of the project, CLPC will identify and work with a select number of schools within its academy to pilot the toolkit. Together, the partners will engage educators and practitioners in identifying classroom needs, advising on content, and testing materials to ensure the Toolkit is practical, relevant, and effective. While the Toolkit is being developed to both satisfy senior capstone requirements as well as support California educators and students pursuing the State Seal of Civic Engagement, the project is designed to create a scalable model that can help schools across the country connect civic engagement, law-related learning, and career exploration.

This project received funding from the Law School Admission Council, Inc. (LSAC). The opinions and conclusions contained in this document are the opinions and conclusions of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of LSAC.