The CLIMB program, which teams up Thomas Jefferson School of Law and students at the Crawford High School Legal Academy, continues to thrive.
On Thursday, February 16, students from Crawford joined students, faculty and staff at TJSL for a special Culture Night presentation of the documentary “This (illegal) American Life.” The video follows children of undocumented immigrants who were born in Mexico, but raised in the U.S. as they strive to get a college education.
Before the screening, TJSL Associate Admissions Director Michelle Allison and Assistant Admissions Director Justin Cruz spoke to the students to inspire them in their own educational goals and get them thinking about a possible career as a lawyer, part of the Discover Law program that is described below.
“Some of you may not have thought about law school at your age,” Allison said. “And you may have no one to look to in your family to set an example. But you can be the trailblazer in your family.”
It was the second CLIMB event of the week in which TJSL participated.
According to CLIMB Coordinator Clinton Minus, 2L, “On February 15th, (TJSL Admissions Director) Tim Spearman spoke to more than 50 teens at Crawford High School. Mr. Spearman also discussed Discover Law, a program under the LSAC (Law SchoolAdmissions Council.) This program was created to provide an opportunity for more people of color to enter law school and the legal profession. Mr. Spearman inspired the young people of TJSL's CLIMB program by assuring them that anything is possible, including becoming attorneys. He also discussed financial aid, including scholarships, grants and loans.
Some of the teens challenged Mr. Spearman when he discussed the importance of protecting your professional image by being conscious of how and what you present of yourself in your personal life. An example of this was what you post on Facebook. One of the teens asked, ‘If I have good grades, why does that matter?’ This led to a discussion of how your personal actions affect your professional life. The members of the CLIMB Program are sure that Mr. Spearman had an impact on the minds and perceptions of what is possible for the youth at Crawford High School.”
CLIMB, which stands for the Crawford Legal Institute & Mentorship Bond program, was founded by Professors Maurice Dyson and Bill Slomanson of TJSL’s Diversity Committee.
Crawford Students Recently wrote articles about their experiences in TJSL's CLIMB Program.