Bilzin Sumberg Strives for Diversity in the Legal Profession by Focusing on the Next Generation

MIAMI - April 7, 2014 - PRLog -- On Wednesday, April 2nd, Bilzin Sumberg hosted nearly 60 students from Coral Gables High School during a full-day legal education conference in connection with the Seventh Annual NALP/Street Law Legal Diversity Pipeline Program, a multi-week initiative which focuses on minority high school students with the goal of encouraging them to pursue a career in the law.

The Pipeline Program, which is a joint partnership between the National Association for Law Placement, Inc.^® (NALP) and Street Law, Inc.,  partners selected law firms with nearby, diverse high school law classes in an effort to provide engagement and education between aspiring law students and real-world legal professionals.

As one of only nine law firms in the country selected to participate in the Diversity Pipeline Program, Bilzin Sumberg is proud to support this effort for the fifth year in a row.

"We are proud to be one of the few Florida firms chosen to participate in this important community program," said Marshall R. Pasternack, a Partner in the Corporate & Tax Group and Chair of the firm's Diversity and Culture committees. "The attorneys of Bilzin Sumberg eagerly volunteer their time each year to work with these high school students because they recognize the need to foster an interest in the legal profession and encourage diversity among the next generation of future leaders.”

During the multi-week Diversity Pipeline program, Bilzin Sumberg conducted workshops and trainings in Litigation, Real Estate and Cyber Bullying with students enrolled in law classes. Bilzin Sumberg professionals also provided one-on-one mentorship and career advice to students who have an interest in pursuing the legal profession post-high school graduation.

The Diversity Pipeline Program serves as an important component in the movement to increase representation of women and minorities in the legal industry.  By providing students the opportunity to participate in real-world legal situations and learn about the law from local legal professionals, the program opens young people to the possibility of a legal career and provides resources to pursue that path.

Bilzin Sumberg’s participation in the Legal Diversity Pipeline Program is one of many pro-bono and charitable projects under the firm’s community outreach program, Bilzin Sumberg Cares.  Launched in 2007, Bilzin Sumberg Cares was designed to provide opportunities for attorneys, staff and their families to collaborate to make a positive impact in the community in which we live and work.

About Bilzin Sumberg

Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP is a commercial law firm with extensive experience in the areas of Corporate & Tax, Government Relations & Land Development, International, Litigation, Real Estate and Restructuring & Bankruptcy.  For more information, please visit bilzin.com (http://www.bilzin.com).

About NALP

The National Association for Law Placement (NALP) is a nonprofit member association dedicated to continuously improving career counseling and planning, recruitment and retention, and the professional development of law students, lawyers, and its members. Founded in 1971, NALP’s membership includes every ABA-accredited law school and over 1,000 employer organizations, ranging from law firms to government agencies and public interest offices. For more information, please visit www.nalp.org.

About Street Law

Street Law, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that has been educating the public about law and democracy for more than 35 years. Street Law writes the best-selling high school law text, Street Law: A Course in Practical Law, and has created a variety of programs that utilize the organization’s expertise in curriculum writing, professional development, customized technical support, and interactive educational methods.  For more information, please visit www.streetlaw.org.