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Street Law / Newsroom / Diversity Pipeline Evaluation Report Published

Diversity Pipeline Evaluation Report Published

November 28, 2011

A 2010–11 evaluation of the NALP/Street Law Legal Diversity Pipeline Program shows that participating students ended the program more interested in legal careers and more knowledgeable about some aspects of the legal profession.

The program, which matches law firms with nearby, diverse high schools, aims to educate young people about the law and legal careers and to provide them with professional role models. Volunteer lawyers and law students teach practical law lessons to students, and the law firm hosts a field trip where the students engage in interactive legal simulations, like mock contract negotiations. Students learn about the law and legal careers while developing legal skills and interacting with professionals.

The evaluation, conducted over the 2010–11 school year, showed promising results with regard to the program’s three short-term objectives: increase student interest in legal careers, increase student knowledge about law and legal careers, and provide social support and role-modeling.

More than two thirds of the participating students said that they were more interested in legal careers after finishing the program. Almost 20 percent of students said they had more strongly considered becoming a lawyer after the program than before.

The work of the volunteers and support by the participating law firms makes this powerful program possible, and the students appreciate their time and dedication. As one student said, “I just wanted to say thanks for the opportunity, I feel very lucky. And hopefully someday I will be in a building just like this one.” In all, the Legal Diversity Pipeline Program provides hundreds of students each year with the chance to learn about law and legal careers and to make connections with professional role models in their communities.