At this time, there are no plans to cancel the organization’s summer programming; JTB leadership and staff will continue to monitor the situation. Please read our Response to COVID-19 Regarding Summer Legal Programming For Students.
2020 Summer Legal Institute
If you will be a high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior in the Fall of 2020 and have 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!
You can learn more about the program here.
Our 2020 SLIs will be held in Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, Springfield, MA, Washington, DC, Detroit, MI, Chicago, IL.
Applications for the 2020 Summer Legal Institute are now open! The application can be accessed here.
Middle School Law Camp 2020
The Middle School Law Camp is a fun, educational, and interactive program that allows students to spend THREE DAYS involved in legal experiences that will bring them to a law school, law firms, and local courts in the city of Chicago!
The application can be accessed here.
Registration is now open for Just The Beginning – A Pipeline Organization’s 12th National Conference to be held in Chicago, September 17th – 20th.
Registration information is available here. Programming information is available here.
This year’s conference will celebrate the legacy of Judge George N. Leighton.
For more information contact us at info@jtb.org.
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) 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 Institute Alumnae
