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AKRON, Ohio – Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro, Akron Municipal Court Judge David Hamilton and Akron Public Schools have launched a new pilot program, Raising the Bar, to introduce students to legal knowledge and career opportunities.
The purpose of the program is to help address racial and ethnic disparities in law schools and law and legal settings, according to a statement. According to a 2019 American Bar Association report, only 7.9% of law school graduates are Black, and only 5% of practicing lawyers in the US are Black. Promoting the Bar aims to increase these numbers by creating career opportunities for students before their education.
Akron Public Schools’ Buchtel Community Learning Center offers a monthly conference for three months, as well as interactive courses for students about career options in the legal field. The Heart to Heart Guide also provides two hour study sessions on the topic. The program also provides networking and professional development opportunities for students, allowing them to complete community service hours related to their college requirements and career paths.
My Brother’s Keeper Summit County is funding the program, which is led by the county. The administration is a chapter of a federal and civil society challenge first launched by President Barack Obama in 2014. Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown heads the Ohio organization, which is led by the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity.
“My Brother’s Keeper is another example of the council’s integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work,” Shapiro said in a release. “I am proud that the council can be a champion of positive change in our community. Raising the Bar is a real step up for our students.”
The county, Akron Municipal Court, Akron Public Schools and Heart to Heart aim to expand the program after the end of December, according to the release.
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