Providing paid legal internships can help close gaps in the inequitable journey to law school and the legal profession.

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
May 18, 2021

Towards Justice and LAW SCHOOL… Yes We Can announce a LSYWC-Towards Justice Legal Internship. The internship will provide two LSYWC participants with a paid internship at Towards Justice every year. LAW SCHOOL… Yes We Can and Towards Justice are aligned in our commitment to a more inclusive and diverse legal profession that is up to the task of addressing the full scope of legal challenges confronting our society. To build that profession, we must break down barriers for those who have been systematically excluded from our profession. 

LAW SCHOOL… Yes We Can (LSYWC) supports first generation to college students who are interested in pursuing legal careers and attending law school. Students accepted into LSYWC are matched with three attorney mentors, are provided continued coaching through their undergraduate years, and access to LSAT prep courses. Towards Justice is a non-profit workers’ rights law firm seeking to support workers in advancing economic justice in Colorado and around the country through impact litigation and policy advocacy. Towards Justice has supported thousands of Colorado workers through free case analysis and litigation.

The new LSYWC-Towards Justice Legal Internship will provide first-generation college students interested in legal careers paid internships with Towards Justice. At least two paid internships will be available in a calendar year. LSYWC-Towards Justice Legal Interns will actively participate in connecting with potential clients, tracking intakes and referrals, communicating with partner organizations and collaborating attorneys, and supporting legal research. The LSYWC-Towards Justice Legal Intern will also learn about Towards Justice’s diverse legal cases, targeted policy advocacy strategies, and the work Towards Justice does to support workers in building worker power.

“LSYWC is a unique pre-law pipeline program for low income, first-generation, and diverse college students that includes team mentoring, strong curriculum of workshops, and professional networking opportunities for our fellows.  At LSYWC, we recognize that experiential learning is a key facet in the preparation for law school and beyond.  We greatly appreciate and are thrilled to be partnering with Towards Justice,” said Maria G. Arias, LSYWC Executive Director. 

“LSYWC provides our fellows with incomparable access to resources to which they would not have otherwise had and provides our mentors and supporters with unparalleled opportunities to make an impact on the diversity of the legal community in Colorado and beyond. Paid internships with Towards Justice is an incredible example of such support,” said Jason Marquez, President/Treasurer, LSYWC Board of Directors.

“We’ve seen how common practices in our profession—like the unpaid internship available to students and aspiring lawyers with connections—help to reinforce systemic barriers to a diverse and inclusive legal profession by disadvantaging those who can’t afford to work without pay and don’t have an inside track to prestigious jobs. Towards Justice has made paid internships a priority and is grateful for our new partnership with LAW SCHOOL… Yes We Can, a terrific organization, in support for first-generation college students,” said David Seligman, Executive Director of Towards Justice

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