Three California State Universities join California LAW Pathways Program
California State University, Bakersfield, California State University, San Bernardino, and California State University, Sacramento have become participants in the California LAW Pathways Program
Sacramento, CA – March 17, 2022 – California State University, Bakersfield, California State University, San Bernardino, and California State University, Sacramento have partnered with the California LAW Pathways Program to promote and support diversity in the legal profession in California. 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 (CPA) model is 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 ten 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.
By participating in the California LAW program, California State University, Bakersfield, California State University, San Bernardino, and California State University, Sacramento will work with high schools and community colleges throughout the state to encourage diverse students to pursue higher education with a goal toward ultimately having a career in a legal system that best represents the population of California and the world we live in. In doing so, these schools continue their outstanding work supporting ethnically and racially diverse student populations.
Student Highlight | Monica Murga
Crawford High School Academy of Law
"Crawford High School will forever hold a special place in my heart. It's the school that helped me achieve several opportunities that I could've not done on my own. The adults here became important to me because from them I received so much motivation and help to succeed.
My experience in the Law Academy has been quite unique. Although I ended both my sophomore and junior year online, I had a really awesome experience in the Academy.Students and staff members always ask me, "Why are you so passionate about the law academy? Why does the academy mean so much to you?" There are many answers to these questions, but my main answer always is the teachers, Ray Beattie and Monique Candor.
When people didn't believe in my passion for helping people and my desire to try to make the world a better place, both of these adults did. They both encouraged me to not give up.
One of the best opportunities that they encouraged me to apply to was the National Civics Law program. The program helped me grow mentally because I began to learn how the real world works and also to understand what I need to do in order to pursue my dream to become a law attorney.
I plan on completing four years of university and major in criminal justice or pre law. After graduating university, I plan to attend law school, where I hope to be the best of the best and become an immigration attorney. "
Executive Corner| Welcoming our new Executive Director, Pamela Enslen
It is a true privilege to assume the position of Executive Director of California LAW. I wholeheartedly agree with those who have said that service to others is the pathway to happiness, and I am very grateful to be able to serve students through Cal LAW. I am honored to serve with many others who work so hard to make this program a success and to fulfill its mission of establishing a pipeline of diverse students from high schools, community colleges, four-year institutions, and law schools into law or law-related careers so that the legal profession reflects the diverse population of the State of California.
Prior to working with Cal LAW, I served as an equity partner in two large Midwest law firms. I previously held positions as a Federal Public Defender, a law clerk in federal and state court, and corporate counsel for two municipalities. During my tenure with the two prominent law firms, I specialized in working for higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations. I most recently chaired my firm’s Higher Education Practice Group.
I also have extensive experience working as a volunteer with the American Bar Association and on the boards of directors for numerous nonprofit entities. I feel very fortunate to bring my higher education and nonprofit governance experience to the position of Executive Director of Cal LAW.
Its mission is one I wholeheartedly embrace.
Prior to starting this position on March 3, I was lucky enough to attend the annual Summit. I learned more about the work of Cal LAW. Still, I also witnessed first-hand the passion, joy, commitment, and dedication of California LAW’s Advisory Board, staff, partners, and student scholars.
It was an extraordinary experience, and I am grateful for having had the opportunity to learn from the participants and be inspired by the work done here in California. For those unable to attend this year, I highly recommend you consider attending next year. You will not be disappointed!
I look forward to working hard to take Cal LAW through its next phase of growth and to providing even more opportunities for student scholars throughout California. Having just begun my term as Executive Director, I am busily attempting to get up to speed on the many facets of the Cal LAW program and the extraordinary reach and successes of the California Community Colleges Foundation. I am in the process of reaching out to individual Cal LAW board members and partners to discuss the work and vision of the program going forward. I will be reaching out to each of you and hope to speak with you soon. My door is always open, so please feel free to contact me to discuss any issue of significance to Cal LAW Pathways.
California LAW Pathways 7th Annual Summit
Thank you for joining us for our 7th Annual Pathways to Law Summit. We hope you found the topics and discussions enriching and valuable as you work towards your education and career goals. This Virtual Summit was made possible by a collaborative effort from our Board, staff, speakers, and sponsors. - thank you for sharing your time and expertise. At this time the recordings are available by request only. Please submit any requests to info@calawpathways.org.
We look forward to seeing everyone next year at the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law, for our 2023 Pathway to Law Summit.
Submit Your Photos
Have photos to share? We invite all Faculty Champions to submit any relevant photos for an opportunity to be highlighted on the California LAW website and resource materials.
Best regards,
California LAW Pathways
1102 Q Street, Suite 4800
Sacramento, CA 95811
calawpathways.org
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