McGeorge School of Law joins California LAW Pathways Program

McGeorge School of Law is set to become a participant in the regional partnership’s Pathway to Law School Initiative, which was established to promote diversity in the legal profession. 

Sacramento, CA – November 03, 2021 –The University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law has entered a partnership with the California LAW Pathways Program to promote and support diversity in the legal profession. The California LAW (Leadership – Access – Workforce) Pathways Program (California LAW) is an organization created to be the foundational structure that connects, communicates, collaborates, and coordinates with programs working to help diverse students enter the legal profession.

California LAW consists of 22 high school law academies created under the California Partnership Academy model in a unique collaboration between the State Bar of California and the California Department of Education. Additionally, California LAW includes members of the Community College Pathway to Law School Initiative, which includes 28 community colleges throughout the state and 10 undergraduate institutions and their law schools, resulting in an educational pipeline into the legal profession created under the leadership of the State Bar of California's Council on Access and Fairness.

The Pathway to Law School program provides a clear pathway for students from high school, community college, and four-year colleges to their three-year Juris Doctorate law school program. By participating in this program, McGeorge School of Law will collaborate with community colleges throughout the state to encourage diverse students to enter the legal profession in order to best represent the population of the world we live in.

“The partnership with California LAW Pathways will open doors to the legal profession and law-related careers for students from marginalized populations,” said Dean Michael Hunter Schwartz. “It is an exciting opportunity for McGeorge to expand how, and to whom, we deliver on our mission of preparing lawyer-leaders who will build a diverse society committed to global justice and to productive, meaningful, careers.”

By joining the California LAW Pathways Program, McGeorge School of Law continues its work supporting ethnically or racially diverse student populations and helping to increase their sense of belonging within law school and the law profession. Other efforts by McGeorge School of Law include housing an on-campus Center for Inclusion and Diversity space, offering multiple diversity scholarships, and hosting various diversity events and activities on campus.

As stated in a news release by McGeorge School of Law, 45 percent of McGeorge’s Class of 2024 identifies as ethnically or racially diverse. The institution works to increase representation and improve students’ sense of belonging within the law school and the legal profession by:

• The JD Admissions Office has led pathway events at McGeorge for more than nine years, and actively works to recruit prospective students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).
• Prior to the pandemic, the JD Admissions Office regularly hosted local elementary, junior high and high school students on campus for a variety of events. Students participated in mock law classes, played mock jurors, participated in Q&A sessions with first-generation and diverse alumni and students.
• The Faculty at McGeorge unanimously passed a resolution to actively work to become and remain an antiracist institution. The resolution was also supported, nearly unanimously, by McGeorge’s five alumni advisory boards and the McGeorge staff.
• McGeorge houses a Center for Inclusion and Diversity (CID) space. Programming from the Center seeks to build community, foster understanding on issues of diversity, and promote an atmosphere of inclusion.
• McGeorge offers multiple diversity scholarships for students who identify as members of groups, such as veterans, minorities, and the LGBTQ+ community.
• The law school faculty unanimously supported and raised funds for the establishment of the Faculty Diversity Scholarship in 2015, which is awarded to diverse incoming students. The scholarship demonstrates the faculty’s commitment to the importance of diversity in the student body and the legal profession.
• McGeorge hosts a variety of diversity events, such as mixers and the Lambda Law Students Association’s annual drag show that raises funds for LGBTQ+ scholarships. Members from all areas of the McGeorge community lead and participate in the annual event.
• Fellowships, internships, student organizations, and other resources for diverse students are available to law students.
• The school’s Diversity Affairs Committee and Diversity-Focused Alumni Board both aim to promote a more inclusive legal profession and institution.
• In June, Simmons was appointed as Assistant Dean of Strategic Diversity Initiatives and Professor Larry Levine was appointed as Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Both are recognized leaders in the diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism space.

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Call for Candidates

Opportunity for Community College Faculty Champions

We are at an exciting time in the growth and development of our organization as we continue to scale our impact through new programming and partnerships and recognize opportunities to grow our reach and impact.

We are currently developing our strategic plan to guide us through this growth. As the world faces unprecedented challenges in our current environment relating to COVID and racial equity, we have responded with modified programming and strategic initiatives which support our core stakeholders to thrive.

We’re looking for Board members who:

• Is a currently faculty/staff at a California Community College.
• Is passionate about and committed to California LAW's mission, goals, and values.
• Is in a position to help us build the reach and influence of our network.
• Can represent the organization to the broader community, including but not limited to members of local government, philanthropic leaders and donors, educators, media, and the businesses community.
• Is committed to meeting the Board of Directors advocacy, work, fundraising, and learning requirements

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California LAW Pathways

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