Saddleback helps pave the way to law school

When a Pathway to Law School Scholar successfully completes the program, he or she will be recognized as such by our partners at the six undergraduate schools, including USC, Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara University, UC Irvine (pictured above), UC Davis, and University of San Fransisco. (Mathieu Marquer/ Creative Commons)

The Pathway to Law School 2+2+3 Initiative established in a Memorandum of Understanding, signed last Saturday at the Legal Pathway Summit at the University of California, Davis School of Law, now allows Saddleback College students to have a direct pathway to law school.

“The Community College Pathway to Law School 2+2+3 Initiative is an unprecedented opportunity to offer advancement in the legal profession for our students,” said leader of Saddleback’s College’s Pathway to Law School and Saddleback instructor Emily Quinlan. “Including diverse populations, particularly those who have been traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession.’

The project is sponsored by the CA LAW, Inc. and State Bar’s Council on Access and Fairness (COAF), Saddleback College is now accepting applications for the Pathway to Law School 2+2+3 – Legal Scholars program.

“This program and initiative is a great opportunity for me, as well as other students, because I look to attend law school in the future,”  said Pre-Law Club president Pontus Goeransson. “Some of the universities that participate in the program are top law schools, such as USC, and having the privilege of receiving special consideration will strengthen my application.”

The program is called “2+2+3” initiative which means students will have to complete two years at Saddleback, two years at the university they transfer to and three years at their law school. It prepares students following this path for a successful transfer and admission to law school.

Some of the benefits of the program also include financial aid counseling, academic advisement, pre-law advisement, LSAT prep information, exposure to the legal community, legal internship opportunities, participation in the Pre-Law Society and other law-related support.

“The pathway is intended to provide resources and opportunities to traditionally underrepresented groups who may not have otherwise realized that they too could go to law school,” Quinlan said.  “While the Pathway to Law School 2+2+3 Initiative at Saddleback welcomes all students from every walk of life and background, the unique and diverse make-up of the community college student population will benefit tremendously.”

Two important things when applying to any law school is the student’s GPA and their Law School Admissions Test or LSAT score.  With help and guidance from the Pathway to Law School students will be much better prepared to apply and will have also made connections with the legal profession and with the academic counselors who can help and guide them.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for every student who wishes to pursue a future in law as it provides a clear path to law school,” Goeransson said. “Unfortunately, statistics show that ethnic minorities are largely unrepresented in the legal profession. While California’s population consists of 60 percent ethnic minorities, the Californian Bar Association is made up of 20% that affiliate with ethnic minorities.”

The Pathway to Law School program is a way for any student who is interested in law to receive support toward their journey to law school and Saddleback is only 24 out of California’s 113 community colleges participate.

Photo used with CC BY-SA 2.0

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