Corporate law departments have been leaders in promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal profession through their impact and influence over the composition of their own departments and the outside counsel who work on their matters. In addition to such strategies, many law departments are focusing on the need to address the pipeline into the legal profession itself, realizing its importance in effecting fundamental change.

Termed the "diversity pipeline," the aim of this pipeline is to ensure an expanding stream of diverse individuals equipped to become successful attorneys and leaders in the legal profession. Toward that end, pipeline strategies involve the development and implementation of programs that help to attract, advise and advance students and professionals of color into all aspects and phases of the legal career, including leadership and management positions. These pipeline programs have garnered tremendous focus and support as they are deemed indispensable to sustainable and increased diversity in the legal profession.

Many law firms, organizations and companies are embracing pipeline programs that are focused on students all the way from grade school to law school. Below is a sampling of some of those programs.

STREET LAW

One of the most active programs in California is a two-year-old effort by the Southern California Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACCA-SoCal) in conjunction with Street Law Inc., the University of Southern California School of Law, Foshay Middle School and Dorsey High School to teach a curriculum from the award-winning Street Law Program. Under the ACCA-SoCal program, members have partnered with USC law students, the Los Angeles Unified School District and the nonprofit Street Law group to teach a series of interactive classes to middle school students. The classes, which have covered areas such as contract negotiations, entertainment law and sports law, are designed to expose students to the work that in-house attorneys do for their companies.

Street Law volunteers use interactive techniques that expose students to the practical applications of the law in everyday situations. In the process, the classes promote cooperative learning, critical thinking and the ability to participate in a democratic society. Companies, meanwhile, are free to design their own programs unique to their industries or customer base. Over the past several years, for example, Southern California Edison Co. has sponsored a Street Law program, focused on utility-related issues, with three high schools in the El Monte Union High School District. The program includes more than 20 in-house lawyers and staff at Southern California Edison who volunteer their time for the classes and workshops. Other companies, including Macy's, Merck, Clorox, Coca-Cola, Marriott and General Motors, have similarly implemented this Street Law program as part of their pro bono efforts to spotlight the important role that the legal profession plays in our society. In addition, Southern California Edison, like many other law firms and companies, for several years has sponsored a team from a local middle school that competes in a mock trial program held under the auspices of the Constitutional Rights Foundation.

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