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The legal profession has long struggled with a lack of diversity, and while progress has been made in recent years, there is still much work to be done.
One of the most significant challenges in the pursuit of a more diverse legal profession is the lack of diversity in law school admissions. Despite efforts to increase diversity in law schools, the number of students of color admitted to law school remains disproportionately low compared to the overall population.
Many diversity programs focus their outreach at the college level. However, according to a 2018 study by Gallup and the Association of American Law Schools1, over half of law students made the decision to go to law school before becoming undergraduates, and nearly half of all Black law students made that decision before high school.
It is clear then, that to effectively build pathways to legal careers for young people from underrepresented communities, outreach must begin much earlier—at the high school or middle school level.
“Both Street Law and the Law School Admission Council have a laser focus on advancing law and justice by encouraging diverse and talented individuals to study law,” said Angela Winfield, LSAC’s Chief Diversity Officer. “This is our raison d’etre. Working together to meet students at an early age is crucial because of what we have to overcome.”
Early education pipeline programs aim to introduce young people to the legal profession at an early age, provide them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed, and ultimately increase the number of students of color who pursue careers in law.
Street Law Inc.’s Legal Diversity Pipeline Program has been helping high school students from underrepresented communities to explore the legal profession for over 20 years.
The program launched in 2001 and is conducted in partnership with the Association of Corporate Counsel and NALP ( National Association for Law Placement).
Since then, more than 120 corporations, law firms, and Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) chapters have participated in the program, including Fortune 500 companies and global law firms such as Verizon, Coca-Cola, Capital One, White & Case, and Kirkland & Ellis.
The program connects volunteer legal professionals with local high schools, where they teach students about law and legal careers. The corporations and law firms that participate often do so as part of their broader diversity or corporate social responsibility efforts.
By providing young people with a supportive and educational environment, the program cultivates their aspirations, creates access to high-quality learning environments, and helps students make informed decisions about their futures.
Street Law draws from decades of experience in working with the legal community to implement early education pipeline programs that align with volunteers’ skills and meet the needs of young people. The program is vital in helping to diversify the legal sector by reaching students before they make crucial career decisions.
“Street Law opened up a new field of interest for me,” said a senior at Potomac High School. “Before taking the course, I didn’t look at law, but it opened my eyes to how law affects me on a daily basis, and how it’s important to study and be knowledgeable about it. It opened up a new passion and a possible career interest.”
Students are not the only ones who benefit from early education pipeline programs. The benefits of pipeline programs for participating law departments and law firms are also significant.
Early education pipeline programs like Street Law’s help law firms and corporate legal departments give back to their communities, recruit diverse talent, and build stronger relationships with clients by demonstrating a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
By looking at what is working well early in the pipeline, law schools and employers will have an opportunity to appreciate the needs and unique contributions of future legal professionals. It will be easier for law schools and employers to connect and extend those best practices to their recruitment, admissions, hiring, retention, and promotion practices.
It is clear that early education pipeline programs are a crucial tool in the effort to diversify the legal profession. By introducing young people to the legal profession at an early age, these programs provide them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed, ultimately increasing the number of students of color who pursue careers in law.
With the continued support and expansion of programs like Street Law, Inc.’s Legal Diversity Pipeline Program, we can work towards a more diverse and equitable legal profession.
If you represent a corporate legal team or law firm and are interested in partnering with Street Law, please contact us to learn more about our program and how to get involved.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity from Street Law because it’s given me a new outlook on life and a new perspective,” said another Potomac High School student. “I feel like it’s really important for students to have the opportunity to take a class like this because it’s something that they can apply to their daily lives, and it’s also opened up a new career path for me, and I’m really excited about it.
1“Highlights from Before the JD: Undergraduate Views on Law School”