California Western School of Law held the 4th annual Prepare to A.I.M. for Law Youth Conference June 2, at the Moot Court Room, 350 Cedar Street in San Diego.
A.I.M. for Law, which stands for “Achieve. Inspire. Motivate,” is an outreach program that prepares high school and undergraduate students, primarily from underrepresented communities, for the law school application process and the first year of law school.
During the one-day conference, that was themed #Dare2See, students engaged in interactive activities that address a successful transition to and through college, with an eye toward law school, as well as key tools needed to get into law school. They spoke to current law students, practicing attorneys/judges, law faculty, and staff, and got a taste of the first year of law school by performing an oral argument before judges.
“The youth conference responds to a growing gap in education particularly for young people from underrepresented groups,” said A.I.M. Program Director P
rofessor Leslie Culver. “That is, an ability to envision an educational/career path beyond high school. In particular, the legal field suffers from a lack of diversity, as many students – primarily racial students – do not see lawyers that look like them, so for many, it is not a desirable or thought of career choice.”
The successful June conference had 22 attendees and ran from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Often waiting until college to introduce a legal career to students can be too late if students have not been academically successful in college,” added Professor Culver. “Turning grades around midway through one’s college career can be extremely difficult, thus making it more difficult to have law school options.”
For more information on the A.I.M. for Law Program visit: https://www.cwsl.edu/student-life/campus-resources/diversity-services/aim-for-law
