Expanding the Legal Diversity Pipeline: Marriott Vacation Club's High School Intern Program
by
Megan Hanson
March 17, 2010
|
Orlando, FL
Two high school students in Orlando, FL were given the opportunity of their young professional lives this past summer — a six-week internship in the law department of Marriott Vacation Club International (MVCI). They worked on a major department project in addition to completing other assignments and a research-based oral presentation. A part of the law department’s participation in the ACC/ Street Law Corporate Legal Diversity Pipeline Program, the internship was conceived and championed in 2007 by the company’s general counsel, James Hunter. Hunter said, “The internship seemed like an excellent complement to our Street Law program, and we’ve found that the interns make a meaningful contribution to the department in the six weeks they spend with us.”
Growing Future Legal Professionals
The internship supplements MVCI’s successful Pipeline Program, which includes teaching about corporate law in Oak Ridge High School law classes and holding a day-long series of interactive legal workshops for about 85 Oak Ridge students. The program’s goal is to encourage more young people of color to pursue legal careers.
Building on the experiences of other companies participating in the program, along with advice and resources from Street Law, Inc., Hunter and his staff created an internship that gives high school students the opportunity to explore the work of the law department and other business groups in the company, and develop research, synthesis, analytical and presentation skills. The internship also helps students create connections and build relationships that they can use later for advice, references or support with college applications. Department staff has continued to serve as mentors to the 2008 interns, who are now in college in Jacksonville, FL, and at Ohio State University.
“This is one of the best parts of my job.”
The legal team at MVCI instituted the internship experience as a way to engage students of color in the law and give them real-world legal experiences. The department found that the benefits of the program extend beyond the high school students, however. According to MVCI paralegal and student mentor Korrine Fleming, “Working with the students has been [an] exciting team- building experience for the law department. This is one of the best parts of my job.” In addition to opportunities for collaboration and new leadership roles for the people who trained and supervised the interns, Hunter outlines additional benefits to the department: “Having interns refreshes the workplace and brings a new perspective to our daily work and habits. I think we all have a more meaningful appreciation for the work we do and the ways we contribute to the company.”
Doug Kelly, one of the program leaders, agrees: “It helps to break up the day and make work a little more interesting,” he says. “It’s great to be a part of the students’ first professional job, to take them along to a meeting, to be a teacher and role model and watch them grow.”
In the end, however, it’s really about giving students opportunities that complement their aspiration and potential with a lasting impact on their future academic and career decisions. The company’s senior management supports the law department’s Diversity Pipeline initiatives and champions the Street Law program as a cornerstone of corporate citizenship, diversity programming and community outreach.
Evidence of Success
Although the students developed new skills, confidence and professionalism from the internship, perhaps the most valuable outcome is strong mentoring relationships with legal professionals. As a promising student, but lacking sufficient support and resources to prepare for college, Myeshia needed assistance to realize her higher education goals. Fleming provided support, advice, encouragement and help with goal setting, obtaining school supplies and applying to college. She sat proudly in the audience as Myeshia graduated 23rd in her high school class. The two are staying in touch during Myeshia’s freshman year at Ohio State. Of the four former interns, three have gone on to college; the fourth is a high school senior.
Several other companies in the Corporate Legal Diversity Pipeline Program have offered internships, including Coca-Cola, General Motors and Choice Hotels. MVCI remains supportive of the internship in the future; as Hunter commented, “We’re committed to this program and intend to continue.”
Companies interested in participating in the ACC/Street Law Corporate Legal Diversity Pipeline Program can contact Program Director Megan Hanson at mhanson@.
Reprinted with permission of the authors and the Association of Corporate Counsel as it originally appeared: “Expanding the Legal Diversity Pipeline: Marriott Vacation Club’s High School Intern Program,”
ACC Docket 28, no. 3 (March 2010):12. Copyright © 2010 the Association of Corporate Counsel. All rights reserved. Legal resources such as this are available to members at no charge. If you are interested in joining ACC, please go to www.acc.com, call 202.293.4103, ext. 360, or email
membership@acc.com.
Source:
March 2010, ACC Docket 28, no. 3
(Reproduced with permission)
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Corporate Legal Diversity Pipeline Program
Topic: Diversity