New Court Programs Inspire Students to Enter Legal Profession

Thursday, February 29, 2024

[Extracted …] Federal judges partner with local bar associations, community groups, and schools to bring programs like these to students in the communities they serve. Last spring, U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Joseph F. Bianco and U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero, of the Southern District of New York, launched the Justice For All: After School Program in New York City. The program is named in honor of the late-U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Robert A. Katzmann and is run in partnership with the Federal Bar Council and the Harlem Educational Activities Fund.

“Offering a three-month course at the courthouse to high school students already interested in the law and the legal profession can be a life-changing experience, especially for students in underserved communities who might not otherwise have full access to law or career programs,” Bianco said.

Students came once a week after school to the Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse, where they heard from eight federal judges and from attorneys at the top of the legal profession who discussed their careers and timely legal topics ranging from criminal investigations, prosecution, and defense to counter-terrorism activities.

“The goal of the program is to help the students understand the importance of the law in our society and give them a real-life glimpse as to how different careers in the legal profession and court system provide a unique opportunity to help others and impact the world,” Bianco said.