Pipeline Council - Judicial Clerkship Program – 25th Anniversary
Will You Help More Diverse Young People Become Attorneys?
Please join the ABA Council for Diversity in the Educational Pipeline in our mission to increase diversity and inclusion in the educational pipeline to the legal profession.
The mission of the Council for Diversity in the Education Pipeline (Pipeline Council) is to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in the educational pipeline to the legal profession. An equitable justice system requires a legal profession that encompasses diverse backgrounds, viewpoints, and experiences. The ABA recognizes the importance of engaging students from diverse backgrounds and communities underrepresented in our profession in learning about the legal system, rule of law, and importance of pursuing careers in the legal profession. The Pipeline Council creates, supports, and expands programs that equip diverse students with the knowledge, skills, tools, and confidence to compete on a level playing field as they navigate their pathways into the legal profession.
Your Gift Matters
In
the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision eliminating affirmative action in
higher education admissions, it’s now more difficult to ensure diversity among
students in law programs. However, the Court’s decision does not affect
pipeline programs that encourage diverse students and support their journey
into the legal profession. It is incumbent on the legal and educational
communities to ensure that students on the margins do not fall out of the
education pipeline. Your gift will support Pipeline Council initiatives,
resources, strategies, best practices, policy, and research to increase
diversity and inclusion in the educational pathway to the legal profession.
Our Impact
We acknowledge that progress is being
made with gradual increases in diversity in the legal profession through recruitment and hiring retention by law firms and corporations. While
being helpful, these programs focus on individuals already practicing law. The
programs and initiatives of the Pipeline Council focus on increasing the number
of diverse individuals entering law school and the legal profession.
- National Pipeline Diversity Initiatives Directory: This free, searchable online database includes initiatives that encourage and equip diverse students to pursue legal careers and presents key information on programs from across the country in an easily accessible, succinct format.
- Community College Pathway to Law Toolkit: Many successful lawyers and judges started their higher education at a community college. This Toolkit provides guidance and resources to those associated with community colleges who are interested in either creating a pathway program to law school or enhancing an existing program.
- A Roadmap for the Creation and Expansion of Law School Pre-Law Pathway Programs:
This toolkit provides law schools with a
roadmap for creating or expanding pre-law pathway programs. The Pathway to the
Law uses teaching, mentorship, and professional integration to develop interest
and opportunity for future lawyers from diverse backgrounds.
- Re-Imagining Legal Education: Innovations in Pipeline Programs: This ten-part series of collaborative programming addresses numerous issues impacting the pipeline to the legal profession.
- Judicial Clerkship Program: The Judicial
Clerkship Program introduces law students from diverse backgrounds from around
the country to judges and law clerks and provides the opportunity to access and
learn about the benefits of judicial clerkships. The program also encourages
judges to consider diverse students that they may not have considered for a
judicial clerkship.
- Uplifting Excellence in the Educational Pipeline – The Raymond Pace Alexander and Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander Award: Named for pioneering African American scholars, the Alexander Awards honor individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exemplary leadership in contributing to the success of underrepresented students including racial and ethnic minorities, students with disabilities, and students who identify as LGBTQ+.