The LACBA Student Lounge Blog

LACBA High School Mentoring Program: Diversity

LACBA Law Student members are encouraged to participate in the 2009-2010 High School Mentoring Program. By participating in the program, law students can turn the tables and become mentors to a Los Angeles high school student that is interested in the legal profession.

Recognizing the urgent need to increase the pipeline of underrepresented minority students preparing for and entering a career in the law, the LACBA High School Mentoring Program was established to connect local high school students with lawyers and law students in Los Angeles County who can serve as mentors and role models, and, in the process, motivate and assist students in pursuing a career in the legal profession.

 Four times a year, groups of mentors meet with groups of high school students for a two hour meeting. Each meeting includes a different area of the legal profession, including areas such as the courts, public service, private practice or the judiciary. The first portion of each meeting includes talks from very well respected judges, public officials and attorneys regarding their journey to becoming an attorney. The later portion of the program includes one-on-one mentoring.

Not only is this a unique opportunity to mentor high school students who are interested in the legal profession, but it is also an opportunity for law students to meet with LACBA attorney members, public officials and judges who are participating as mentors in the program.

The next meeting will be held at Garfield High School on August 13 starting at 3:30 p.m. Please feel free to come to this meeting. No registration required. Question? Contact Seth Chavez at (213) 896-6560 or send an email.

Martindale-Hubbel Connected: Attorney Social Network Doubles in Users

Over the past few months, the number of users of LexisNexis, Martindale-Hubbel Connected users has more than doubled. Designed as a type of social network for lawyers with the types of safeguards and features that lawyers will appreciate, Larry Bodine reports that in March there were about 3,000 users of the Connected network and now there are about 7,500 network users.

Is Connected a good resource for law students? According to a FAQ about Connected, law students and legal marketing professionals will be able to register once Connected is launched to the full legal profession. It appears that this hasn't happened yet, as registrants need to provide an admitted to practice date.

Although there is no cost to be be in the Connected network, a number of permissions related to the network will be available to only Martindale-Hubbel subscribers.

Details about Martindale-Hubbel Connected.

LACBA Supports PILF Auction at Whittier Law School

In support of the 18th Annual WPILF Auction, LACBA donated a 2009 LACBA Membership and a CLE Plus Membership valued at up to $425.00. According to a letter sent to LACBA, the Whittier PILF auction raised $30,000 and is expecting a matching grant of $10,000.

The auction proceeds will provide grants to students interning in public interest law positions throughout the community. These students will engage in providing services focused on children's rights, domestic violence, mental health issues, fair-housing issues, and criminal justice.