Middle School Students in the Chicago area are invited to join us for a day at the Federal Court in Chicago where students will have the opportunity to view a live court proceeding, interact with Federal Judges during a Judge’s Panel, and learn about the duties of a U.S. Marshal! Join us for a fun-filled morning between approximately 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
You can learn more about the program here.
Applications for this program have now closed.
2019 iLead Law & Leadership Conference
iLead is a one-day conference for high school students focused on leadership development and the introduction of legal concepts.
The 2019 Conference will be held at Vanderbilt Law School in Nashville, TN in November.
Due to an overwhelming response, the application for the 2019 Nashville iLead Law & Leadership Conference has reached maximum capacity and are applications now closed.
Federal Courts Day
High school students in the Indianapolis area are invited to join Just the Beginning for a day at the Federal Court where students will have the opportunity to view a live court proceeding, interact with Federal Judges during a Judge’s Panel, and learn about the duties of a U.S. Marshal!
This event will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana on Feburary 7, 2020.
Applications for this FREE program are now open and are due Thursday, January 30, 202. You can access the application here.
2020 Summer Judicial Internship Diversity (SJID) Project
The Committee on Judicial Resources for the United States Judicial Conference and Just The Beginning – A Pipeline Organization are pleased to announce the eighth annual Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project for Summer 2020.
Additional information is available here. The applicaton is available here.
DEADLINE is Friday, January 3, 2020 at 5:00pm EST. Early submission is highly encouraged.
2020 Summer Legal Institute
If you or someone you know is a high school student with an interest in the legal field, JTB’S Summer Legal Institute is the program for you! The SLI is an awesome way to gain exposure to a variety of legal careers while honing public speaking, critical thinking, and networking skills with legal professionals in your area! This FREE 5-day program is held nationwide.
You can learn more about the program here.
Applications for the 2020 Summer Legal Institute open on December 2, 2020.
JTB-APO is a multiracial, nonprofit organization that has served the legal community for nearly 25 years.
It is dedicated to developing and nurturing interest in the law among young persons from various socioeconomic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds underrepresented in the legal profession and to supporting their continued advancement.
By acting as a continual advocate for diversity and higher education, JTB sustains a cycle of academic and professional achievement and role models for underserved communities with a high proportion of at-risk-students.
JTB-APO
Lighting the spark in the next generation of diverse lawyers and leaders.
JTB educates hundreds of students about the legal profession through our school-year programs and Summer Legal Institutes (SLIs) in eight cities around the country. These programs are all provided completely free of charge to the students we serve.
History
Just the Beginning” began as a celebration of the Integration of the Federal Judiciary on September 19, 1992, in Chicago, IL. Today, Just The Beginning – A Pipeline Organization continues this mission by offering pipeline programs directly aimed at inspiring young students and increasing diversity in the legal profession and judiciary.
Programs
JTB offers free educational pipeline programming for students in middle school, high school and law school with a mission to increase the diversity in the legal profession.
Impact
JTB annually measures the impact of the Summer Legal Institute and other programs by providing pre and post surveys to scholars to gauge their experience and acquired skills. In 2017, 78% of our scholars were more interested in becoming a lawyers after completing the Summer Legal Institute and 97% described their experience as positive or very positive.
JTB programs help Scholars to develop their leadership skills while introducing them to careers in law. In 2017, 78% of our Summer Legal Institute Scholars were more interested in becoming a lawyer after the week-long immersion.
OUR VALUES
Exposure
We provide exposure to a wide variety of legal careers and leaders. We believe you can become what you can see.
Education
We provide resources and guidance in helping JTB Scholars build legal, professional, and leadership skills; they then employ these skills in legal environments. We believe you learn more when you do more.
Connection
We connect our Scholars with our extraordinary network, which includes: lawyers, judges, corporate partners, and JTB alumni who are committed to passing the torch by providing inspiration, encouragement, and support.
Together We Make The Difference
We Light the Spark in Tomorrow's Leaders!
"I miss JTB so much! It has been influential in the way I carry myself professionally. During the Summer Legal Institute I was able to gain more confidence in my public speaking and networking skills!"
-Samantha Samano, Summer Legal Instituate Alumnae
