Native American Pathway to Law Initiative

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Native American Pathway to Law Initiative

The Pipeline to Law Initiative includes:
➕ Early Outreach
➕ Pre-Law Advising
➕ Mentorship Opportunities population.
(1)

This Initiative is sponsored by the Indian Legal Program at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and the Indigenous Law Program at Michigan State University College of Law with the support of National Native American Bar Association, Native American Bar Association of Arizona, The Princeton Review Foundation, Office of Admissions at University of California, Berkeley Schoo

l of Law, American Indian Law Center, Inc., University of South Dakota School of Law, and ASU Native American Law Students Association. The 2015 National Native American Bar Association study of Native Americans in the legal field (The Pursuit of Inclusion: An In-Depth Exploration of the Experiences and Perspective of Native American Attorneys in the Legal Profession), concluded that the Native American law student population is lower than the rate of Native Americans in the overall U.S. The study found that pathway projects reaching students in earlier stages of education are essential to continuing the gains in Native American law student numbers and success. In response to the issues identified in the 2015 National Native American Bar Association survey, the Indian Legal Program and the Indigenous Law Program are joining together to strengthen the Native American pathway to law. This important initiative is generously funded by grants from Access Group, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The Pathway to Law Initiative includes:
•Early Outreach: visit elementary, middle and high school classrooms to share information about the law and legal careers using age appropriate materials and culturally relevant information.
•Pre-Law Advising: offer LSAT prep programs and prelaw advising sessions to Native American students. Intensive prelaw sessions at various locations will include guidance on the law school application process, financial aid and the LSAT.
•Mentorship Opportunities: facilitate multilevel mentorship between high school students, college students, law students and attorneys.

08/08/2024

Future legal professionals!

06/14/2024

Indigenizing the legal profession 📸 Highlights from our 10th annual Pathway to Law workshop hosted at UC Berkeley School of Law. ⚖

Students attended sessions facilitated and presented by the J.D. Admissions Office at Berkeley Law, Indian Legal Program at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at ASU, Turtle Talk: Official Blog of the IL&PC, American Indian Law Center, Inc., National Native American Bar Association and the National Congress of American Indians.

We appreciate everyone for making this a big success, presenters, law professionals and law students who generously donated their time, our partners and sponsors - American Indian Law Center, Inc. and the California Indian Law Association. Your contributions were vital in supporting these bright and motivated Native American students, ensuring they received the guidance and resources necessary to pursue their legal aspirations.

06/11/2024

Thank you to the American Indian Law Center, Inc. and the California Indian Law Association for sponsoring the 36 Native American pre-law students at the 2024 Pathway to Law Program at Berkeley Law! The sponsorship helps make this important programming occur.

06/10/2024

Last week, we proudly hosted our 10th annual Native American Pathway to Law workshop at the UC Berkeley School of Law. We were thrilled to bring together 36 Native American students for this special event. 📚

We deeply appreciate all our partners, attorneys, and law students who generously volunteered their time to support these bright and motivated students of the Pathway to Law cohort. Your dedication and efforts have made a significant impact on their journey.

Thank you for being a part of this empowering event!

J.D. Admissions Office, UC Berkeley School of Law | Indian Legal Program at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at ASU | Turtle Talk: Official Blog of the IL&PC | American Indian Law Center, Inc.

06/07/2024

Today marks day 4 of the Pathway to Law Program, currently being held at Berkeley Law. 📚 The program has gathered 36 Native American students to learn about the law school admissions process and acquire tools and resources to support their legal careers.

04/24/2024

Last month, Law360 named PTL alum Mitchell Forbes to its editorial advisory board for Native American Law. Excellent news, Mitchell!

Law360 has named counsel Stephanie Abrutyn to its editorial advisory board for Media & Entertainment and has named counsel Breann Nuʻuhiwa and associate Mitchell Forbes to its editorial advisory board for Native American Law. Law360’s editorial advisory boards draw on the expertise and the networ...

04/12/2024

Congratulations Sapphire!🎉

Sapphire participated in Pathway to Law in 2020.

04/09/2024

04/08/2024

We enjoyed seeing everyone last week!

03/27/2024

Pathway alumni - If you're attending Fed Bar next week, you are invited for an evening of valuable connections and new opportunities at the ILP Alumni & Friends Awards Ceremony & Reception. J.D. Admissions Office at UC Berkeley School of Law + Indian Legal Program at ASU Law are teaming up for a special evening.✨ We hope to see you there!

RSVP at: links.asu.edu/ilpaward

03/23/2024

Deadline is extended to March 29. Take the weekend to prepare your application!

03/21/2024

Good news! We are extending the application deadline to March 29.

03/15/2024

Morgan Oakes, a member of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, knows all too well what it feels like to be the only Native American in the room. With her law degree, she will use her legal perspective to draft better Federal Indian policy and be the engine of change.

Morgan participated in a Pathway to Law workshop in 2021, American Indian Law Center, Inc. Pre-Law Summer Institute later that year and is in her second year of law school at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.

Applications are due March 15: law.asu.edu/pathwaytolaw

03/15/2024

Federal courts regularly hear and decide cases concerning tribal sovereignty and yet less than 1% of Native Americans work in the field of law. We are steeped in our treaties and we need to advance our presence in the legal profession to protect our Tribal Sovereignty.

The Native American Pathway to Law Workshop is offered to aspiring law students. It is a 5-day workshop that offers resources, application review, LSAT preparation, financing information and more—all in a non-recruitment environment.

Today is the deadline to apply: law.asu.edu/pathwaytolaw

J.D. Admissions Office, UC Berkeley School of Law | Indian Legal Program at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at ASU | Turtle Talk: Official Blog of the IL&PC | American Indian Law Center, Inc.

The Native American Pathway to Law team is excited to host a five-day Pathway to Law Workshop from June 5–9 at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in Berkeley, California. This workshop offers resources, application review, LSAT preparation, … Continue reading →

03/12/2024

Robin Bilagody grew up on the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona. She set out for law school to learn about Indian law, pass the bar and remind Native women that law school is attainable. Robin participated in a Pathway to Law workshop in 2019. She will be graduating with her juris doctor degree from MSU College of Law in May.

Applications are due March 15: law.asu.edu/pathwaytolaw

03/07/2024

We need leaders who align with our vision to strengthen our Indigenous cultural values, protect our lands, critically think about our tribal interests for the long term, and who can navigate complex laws. For Geoffrey Bacon, having a law degree can build and sharpen those leadership skills to better support his tribal communities. Geoffrey is Denaakk’e Athabaskan, a member of the Native Village of Tanana from Fairbanks, Alaska. Geoffrey participated in a Pathway to Law workshop in 2019, American Indian Law Center, Inc.'s Pre-Law Summer Institute in 2020 and graduated from the UC Berkeley School of Law in 2023.

Application is due March 15: law.asu.edu/pathwaytolaw

02/24/2024

Ashlee Fox is no stranger to public service. Her background includes working for her tribe as a Self-Governance Coordinator and Assistant to the Principal Chief, interning for the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, representing tribal youth as the President of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council and serving as a White House Tribal Nations Youth Ambassador. She is pursuing a law degree so that she can defend tribal sovereignty, strengthen tribal economies and uphold the federal government’s legal obligations to Indian tribes.

Ashlee participated in a Pathway to Law workshop in 2020, American Indian Law Center, Inc.’s Pre-Law Summer Institute in 2022 and will be graduating from Yale Law School in 2025.

Seats fill up fast. Apply now: law.asu.edu/pathwaytolaw

02/20/2024

Pre-law Advisors Training is happening this week in Albuquerque!

02/20/2024

The Native American Pathway to Law team is also accepting donations that directly support students participating in a workshop. Our team is deeply committed to the Native American Pathway to Law initiative that aims to bolster our presence and practice in Indian law. All proceeds will assist with travel expenses, lodging and support the program.

Donate at: https://www.asufoundation.org/colleges-and-programs/schools-and-colleges/sandra-day-oconnor-college-of-law/pathway-to-law-CA125332.html

02/17/2024

Eldred D. Lesansee is a citizen of the Pueblo tribes of Jemez and Zuni from New Mexico, and the first in his family to attend law school. He chose to pursue a law degree to better advocate for tribal sovereignty, self-determination and cultural property protection policies over Indigenous cultural patrimony, sacred sites and intellectual property. A second-year law student at Columbia Law School, Eldred is serving as their NALSA president and president of the National Native American Law Students Association. As a participant in the Pathway to Law Workshop in 2019, Eldred explains how the program helps aspiring law students.

Application is due March 15: law.asu.edu/pathwaytolaw

02/13/2024

The Native American Pathway to Law Initiative is dedicated to advancing the next generation of legal warriors to strengthen Tribal Sovereignty for our tribal communities that are disproportionately impacted by law and policy. 🔥 We encourage future law students to participate. As a participant of the Pathway to Law Workshop at UC Berkeley School of Law, you’ll learn about admissions criteria, receive hands-on feedback, financing options, LSAT prep, and more—all in a non-recruitment environment. Apply now and meet us at Berkeley Law for a FREE 5-day workshop.

Our National Team is rooting for you!

J.D. Admissions Office, UC Berkeley School of Law | Indian Legal Program at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at ASU | Turtle Talk: Official Blog of the IL&PC | American Indian Law Center, Inc.

📍 law.asu.edu/pathwaytolaw

02/06/2024

01/05/2024

Pathway to Law alumni, feel free to share the 5-day Pathway to Law Workshop at UC Berkeley School of Law to your contacts! 😄

12/21/2023

Do you advise Native students on law careers and applying to law school? Register for our training! We offer travel reimbursements and registration fee waivers for tribal education departments and tribal colleges. See the link for details!

https://www.ailc-inc.org/pre-law-advisors-training/

06/10/2023

One of the partners, Kate Rosier, executive director of the Indian Legal Program at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at ASU sits down with Indian Country Today and talks about the history of the Native American Pathway to Law Initiative and positive outcomes of the program.

See full interview (at 5:20): https://youtu.be/x-a016T7EYs

06/09/2023

Our largest group to date! This week, 43 Native students are participating in the ninth annual Native American Pathway to Law Workshop. This year, the 5-day workshop is hosted at the ASU Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law in Phoenix, Arizona. We're halfway through the program and so many great questions so far.

American Indian Law Center, Inc. | UC Berkeley School of Law | Turtle Talk: Official Blog of the IL&PC | Indian Legal Program at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at ASU

05/22/2023

03/13/2023

The Pathway to Law 5-day workshop is free to Native American participants. Deadline to apply is March 15. Don't miss this opportunity!

📍 law.asu.edu/pathwaytolaw

03/13/2023

Sapphire Carter is from the Rocky Boy's Reservation in Montana. She chose a law degree so that she can better advocate and reform policies that affect Indigenous women. Participating in a Pathway to Law workshop in 2020 helped Sapphire with her law school application, and now attends the University of Montana School of Law.

Applications for the pre-law workshop are due March 15.

Apply now at: law.asu.edu/pathwaytolaw

03/11/2023

Rory Wheeler grew up on the Seneca Nation Territory in New York and learned the detriments many tribes experience—broken treaties and boarding school trauma. He realized having a law degree is how he can advocate and regain rights as citizens of sovereign governments. Rory is in his first year at MSU College of Law. As a past participant of Pathway to Law in 2020, Rory encourages students to take advantage of this opportunity.

Applications are due March 15. Apply at: law.asu.edu/pathwaytolaw

Address

111 E. Taylor
Phoenix, AZ
85004

Website

http://law.asu.edu/pathwaytolaw

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