Attorney Howard Hertz (third from right) met with young camp participants during the Law and the Real World C2 Pipeline camp at Wayne State University Law School.
(Photo courtesy of Wayne Law)
Ryan Doss, an academic services officer with Wayne State University Law School’s undergraduate law programs, is part of a team moving forward with solutions to deal with the lack of diversity in the legal profession. A new venture for the law school was last month’s four-day Law and the Real World C2 Pipeline camp.
The camp focused on engaging students in legal simulations and hands on activities to learn the law.
Students attended camp in the law building and networked with legal professionals. C2 Pipeline is a Wayne State University program funded by the Michigan Department of Education.
The goal of C2 Pipeline is college and career readiness. While such camps have been happening on Wayne’s campus for many summers, this is the first year the law school participated.
It was through Doss’ vision and leadership that the camp came to life.
“I am elated to have my vision come to fruition. C2 Pipeline serves underrepresented students who attend inner city high-risk ,” he said. “These students often lack the resources their peers have at other schools.
“Our Law and the Real World Camp offered us the ability to make legal resources obtainable in an engaging way. By exposing students to different areas of the law we are breaking systemic barriers, expanding their perspectives, and making a legal profession an attainable career option.”
Fifteen students from area high schools, including Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School in Detroit, Fitzgerald and Lincoln High School in Warren, and Center Line High School in Center Line attended sessions each day from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
The law camp was organized around two themes — Business Law and Fourth Amendment related criminal law issues.
During the business law session, students learned about business entities, negotiations, and participated in a simulated employment contract negotiation.
During the criminal law session, students learned about privacy expectations in schools and worked through mock scenarios.
The camp ended with students navigating an escape room by resolving legal cases, playing legal focused Jeopardy and enjoying an ice cream social.
“I had a lot of fun and would tell others to participate in the camp,” said Janeya Begum, a 12th grader at Centerline High School. “I loved how all the games related to learning aspects of the law.”
“I enjoyed getting to experience a negotiation and having to be on teams and collaborate throughout the week,” added Shifa Khanom, a senior at Fitzgerald High School. “It was fun getting to know each other and learn new skills.”
Joining the C2 Pipeline Summer Camps program is the latest in a series of efforts at the law school to help those not traditionally represented in law to see law as accessible.
Recently, students at the law school held a Lawyers Look Like Me campaign, which focused on helping young people from all communities see themselves reflected in legal practice.
Dan Ellman, assistant clinical professor and director of externships at the law school, was part of the faculty involved in the law camp.
“It is important to expose students to what it is like to be a lawyer to help develop their career interests,” he said “The more that young people experience and have exposure to the more they have to reflect on when making decisions going forward. I also enjoy interacting with young students who are creative and innovative in their thinking.”
Wayne Law’s minor in law program and new B.A. in Law program further open the door to the legal world for those who may not traditionally see law as an option.
These academic programs open prospects for students to be part of the legal system in a variety of capacities or to discover that pursuing a JD is their passion and very much within their reach.
“I’m excited to have participated in the C2 Pipeline Camp program, as it aligns with our efforts to provide students, especially those from underrepresented or historically disadvantaged backgrounds, the opportunity to explore law as a potential field of study,” said Nikki Taylor-Vargo, assistant dean of Non-J.D. Programs. “We are already starting to plan for next year’s camp!”
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://legalnews.com/subscriptions
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
