The Brooklyn Legal Pipeline Initiative (BLPI) was started in 2017 and is designed to provide students from diverse backgrounds, who live or attend college in Brooklyn, direct instruction on how to successfully apply to and fund a law school education. Participants attend a mock networking event and mock interviews. They are additionally offered mentorship opportunities.
Students who attend all sessions will be offered an opportunity to obtain a summer internship. Stipends may be available to defray certain transportation and ancillary costs associated with the internships. This program is co-sponsored by the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association (BWBA), The Defense Association of New York (DANY) and the Brooklyn Bar Association (BBA).
Selected students will attend five (5) two-hour classroom sessions, starting in January 2019 that will be moderated by volunteer judges, attorneys and law school administrators. Classes will be held at the Brooklyn Bar Association’s landmark building located at 123 Remsen Street in downtown Brooklyn. These classes will be held from 5:30- 7:30 PM on dates to be announced and will address the following topics:
January 15, 2019 – The Legal Profession – What is a lawyer? What do they do? – Panel discussion with judges and attorneys describing the areas in which they practice.
February 19, 2019 – Applying to Law School – Course selection- Time management – Writing skills – IRAC – The LSAT’s – Paying for law school – Guided questions and answer session with a career counselor and a law school admissions officer.
March 19, 2019- Networking and Mentoring – Each participant will be paired with an Attorney Mentor – Developing a resume and cover letter.
April 16, 2019 – Internships –Interview Skills – Professionalism.
May 21, 2019 – Mock Interviews – Each participant will participate in simulated interviews and will receive immediate constructive feedback.
July -August 2019 – Summer Internship Program
The 2017 and 2018 Brooklyn Pipeline Programs were resounding successes. We have now had over 40 students complete our direct instruction program and have been able to place each of the students who requested internship opportunities in stipend supported summer positions. The feedback from our summer internship providers was highly positive.
We are presently working with an LSAT prep course to offer this year’s students a greatly discounted rate to prepare for the July 2019 LSAT test.
The Application deadline is January 11. Click here for the brochure containing additional information.