Southfield, MI – Eighteen students from Southfield High School for Arts and Technology had the opportunity to participate in a workshop featuring interactive learning about what lawyers do, working through problems in employment law and contract law.
The conference concluded the Fall 2019 Street Law Corporate Legal Diversity Pipeline Program, sponsored by Bejin Bieneman PLC and partners Ford Motor Company, DRiV, Inc., and Uber. The program partners law firms with nearby, diverse high school classes in an effort to engage the students, teach them about the law, and encourage them to consider careers in the legal profession. Street Law is a non-profit organization that provides practical, participatory education about law, democracy, and human rights. Bejin Bieneman is one of dozens of law firms across the country collaborating with companies in the program. About 65 companies participate and involve approximately 1,900 legal professionals who serve over 5,000 students across the U.S. each year.
Students at Thursday’s conference explored employment law and contract through interactive workshops that allowed them to understand what lawyers and paralegals do.
The conference is the culmination of a multi-week program in which participating lawyers and paralegals taught students about the law and legal profession. Bejin Bieneman’s legal professionals also offer personal mentorship and career guidance to students from the program who are interested in a career in law.
According to Street Law’s Director of Legal Diversity Pipeline Programs, this program is an important tool to increase diversity in the legal profession. “These students need to be exposed to information about legal careers and have the opportunity to explore the types of tasks legal professionals do on a daily basis. A high-energy, interactive experience like this is a great way to get young people interested in legal careers.”
“Our firm is excited to participate in Street Law’s engaging and valuable program to encourage a diverse pipeline of talent to enter the legal profession. “, said Charles Bieneman. “All involved felt that this initial program in the Detroit area was a great success – and a lot of fun. We look forward to many more.”
About Bejin Bieneman, PLC
Bejin Bieneman PLC is a full-service intellectual property law firm, serving clients nationally and internationally. The firm maximizes returns on client’s long-term investments by understanding client business objectives. Bejin Bieneman’s attorneys counsel clients on complex patent and trademark prosecution and litigation issues and provide intellectual property services in a timely and well-executed manner.
About Street Law, Inc.
Street Law, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides practical, participatory education about law, democracy, and human rights. With a unique blend of content and methodology, Street Law, Inc. uses techniques that promote cooperative learning, critical thinking, and the ability to participate in a democratic society. For over 45 years, Street Law, Inc.’s programs and curricula have promoted knowledge of legal rights and responsibilities, engagement in the democratic process, and belief in the rule of law, among both youth and adults.