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A new initiative at �鶹��ý (�鶹��ý) is championing diversity in the legal field.

The Pathways to Law School program, which is now underway at �鶹��ý, is overseen by June McLaughlin, an �鶹��ý professor and director of its American Bar Association (ABA)-approved Paralegal Studies program. 

Created to establish a pipeline of diverse legal students to reflect California’s multicultural population in the workforce, the statewide initiative is a collaboration between the California Community Colleges and the State Bar of California through California LAW, a nonprofit organization.

According to McLaughlin, the student body at �鶹��ý is incredibly diverse with many students the first to attend college in their families. “Underrepresented populations often identify law as a career but for reasons beyond their control fail to make it in the legal field,” she explains. “This initiative helps students transition from high school to community college, then guarantees admission to a four-year university. Pathways students also receive help with identifying and applying to law school, with their applications flagged for law school affiliates as a Pathways partner.”

Well positioned to help students pursue a legal career, McLaughlin has worked for �鶹��ý since 2010 when she founded the Paralegal Studies program. She holds a J.D. from Seton Hall University, an LLM in taxation from Chapman University and an LLM in international business law from King’s College, London.  

Designed to generate a more diverse and representative workforce — in all segments of society where lawyers and others in law-related careers contribute to the workforce – Pathways in Law requires commitment and dedication.  “Students need not be in the �鶹��ý Paralegal Studies program, but it is recommended that they are in a law-related major,” McLaughlin explains. “To remain in the program, students must take specific courses and participate in mock trial, law related events and law school tours.” She anticipates accepting up to 15 students into the program this year. 

One of �鶹��ý’s first Pathways to Law School students is David Liu Jr., president and founding member of the �鶹��ý Mock Trial Team and an aspiring attorney who has set his sights on going to UCLA, then continuing on to law school. “For the legal field, it matters who you know as much as what you know,” says Liu, a first-generation college student who immigrated here from Brazil. “Available to those who otherwise don’t have opportunities, the Pathways program has helped me develop important connections and obtain an internship in a mediation firm. I am really excited about the possibilities it provides.” 

Further bolstering diversity and strengthening skills, �鶹��ý’s paralegal program is now partnering with other �鶹��ý departments to support the growing diversity of �鶹��ý’s student body – most recently the English as a Second Language (ESL) faculty to write an English for Law course. “We share resources from law classes to help provide a robust course, setting students up for success,” McLaughlin explains.  

According to McLaughlin, “through these partnerships and programs like Pathways to Law School, we are building support for students on their way to future jobs in the legal field as well as graduate work in law and criminal justice.’ Most importantly, says Liu, for “someone like me who was not born into a family of connections and white-collar jobs, the Pathways program opens important doors to the legal profession.”   

Most importantly, says Liu, for “someone like me who was not born into a family of connections and white-collar jobs, the Pathways program opens important doors to the legal profession.”