Student Law Academy

"It is an outstanding program that connects the legal community with diverse, future community leaders.  I'm inspired by the students' enthusiasm for the law and their eagerness to learn." 

- Sherri Wattenbarger, U.S. Department of Justice Office of The U.S. Trustee, SLA Mentor

 

2023 SLA Program

Scholar applications are now open for the Legal Pathway segment. Priority will be given to applications received on or before February 28th, and the final application deadline is March 31st. Contact Keva Gorman [email protected] for questions about applying or if you are a past SLA scholar interested in the Job Shadow segment. For individual school applications visit our Facebook page. See Student Flyer below.

  Legal Pathway will run from June 5th - 30th

  Job Shadow will run from July 10th - 28th

If you are a KCMBA member interested in volunteering, contact Bethany Goettling - [email protected] and view the volunteer guide packet below for all of the opportunities.

Stay tuned for a calendar of events and other updates!

Student Flyer

Volunteer Guide Packet

Mentor Application

  Sponsorship

About Student Law Academy

"Increasing diversity in our profession is not only the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do. The Kansas City legal community will realize its fullest potential only when the talents of all who practice law or aspire to a legal career, regardless of background, are welcomed."
- Sylvester "Sly" James, KCMBA Past President and founder of the Diversity Initiative

Who We Are

Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation (KCMBF), in partnership with local education non-profit organization The Partnership for Regional Education Preparation-Kansas City (PREP-KC), created Student Law Academy (SLA) in 2019. SLA aspires to serve as a future pipeline to diversify Kansas City's legal community.

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide underserved urban high school students, who would not otherwise have the opportunity, meaningful exposure to careers in the legal profession and a broad overview of the legal system. 

What We Do

SLA collaborates with local law firms, courts, and other legal entities to provide students with a dynamic, paid summer program. SLA works within PREP-KC's six school districts and three charter schools (Allen Village, Center, Independence, KCKPS, KCPS, Grandview, Guadalupe Centers, and Hickman) to select juniors and seniors in high school as SLA Scholars. 

Inspire the Next Generation

"If I know someone out there is supporting me, then I have more motivation to pursue law." 
- 2021 Student Law Academy Scholar

Former SLA Scholar stands next to Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas with their arms around each other and smiling at the camera

Please contact Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation at [email protected] with questions or other ways to get involved.

KCMBF's Student Law Academy 2022 Program

 

The 2022 program expanded to include three segments: a Legal Pathway, a Job Shadow, and a Pre-Law Fellowship. Thank you to all who made this year's program possible!

Meet the 2022 Legal Pathway Scholars

Meet the 2022 Job Shadow Scholars

2022 Calendar of Events

 

Congratulations to all of our Legal Pathway scholars for graduating from the program! 

See the 2022 Graduation Program

 

Thank You to SLA 2022 Sponsors!


Summa Cum Laude

Davis Bethune and Jones law firm logo   Ketchmark & McCreight law firm logo

Magna Cum Laude

Shook Hardy Bacon LLP firm logo

Cum Laude

Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Radar PC law firm logo Baty Otto Coronado Scheer logo  Burgess law firm logo                        Norman and Graves law firm logo

Order of the Coif


Athena M. Dickson
Gyllenborg & Brown, P.A.
Stinson LLP

Other Contributors



Thank you to the National Institute for Trial Advocacy for providing case file materials. 

Thank you to The M.R. & Evelyn Hudson Foundation for their ongoing support.

 

2021 SLA Program

Due to COVID-19, the 2021 program was once again adapted to a virtual format. The SLA Legal Pathway launched June 1, providing online sessions through Zoom each morning through June 25. The Scholars interacted with legal professionals, judges, federal agents, and others to learn about practice areas, case studies, the legal system, and what careers exist in the law. Each scholar was also paired with two mentors, who were legal professionals from the Kansas City community. Scholars and mentors met for an hour each Monday.

We are proud of the Scholars' ability to engage, learn, and collaborate through this format. We are also thankful for the Kansas City legal community supporting these Scholars' desire to learn about the law! Student Law Academy believes #YouCanBeALawyer.

 

 

Image: 2021 Graduates - In Their Own Words

See our 2021 Student Law Academy Graduates!

During The Missouri Bar Annual Meeting, Supreme Court of Missouri Chief Justice Paul C. Wilson gave remarks on September 23, 2021 and highlighted the Student Law Academy at minute 17. Listen to the entire address below.



2020 SLA Program

Due to COVID-19, the 2020 program was adapted to a virtual format. The SLA Legal Pathway launched June 1, providing online sessions through PREP-KC’s virtual Connector. Each Monday in June, SLA Scholars interacted with legal professionals on salient legal topics. This Legal Pathway sets up a formal path to the law for future students nationwide. See our June Speakers!

Additionally, rather than the planned in-person internships, SLA pivoted to an online curriculum for the weeks of July 13-17 and July 20-24, with a virtual Graduation on July 24. Each day, SLA Scholars learned from legal professionals through interactive sessions, discussions, and special projects. They virtually visited courts, witnessed dockets, depositions, and learned about the legal system and careers in the law. All online activities were administered through the Connector. See our July speakers! 

If you or a student is interested in these topics many of our speakers agreed to share their presentations with the public. You can find a playlist of their presentations at Nepris

Meet the 2020 Student Law Academy Scholars!

KCMBF's Student Law Academy Won 2020 Diversity & Inclusion Award


2020 KCMBF President Peter Goss
2020 KCMBF President Peter Goss accepting the award
Congratulations to KCMBF's Student Law Academy for being selected as a Missouri Lawyers Media 2020 Diversity & Inclusion Award winner! The awards recognize attorneys, firms, and organizations that are significantly advancing diversity, inclusion, and the dignity of all people in Missouri’s legal profession and in communities in which exceptional legal work impacts justice for all. To learn more about the award and honorees click here. 

 

Congratulations to our 2020 Student Law Academy Graduates! See the 2020 Graduation Program!

Learn more about SLA and the other Legal Connection programs by watching the video below:

In Memory of JoEllen Engelbart

  Visit http://kcmbf.org/joellen to learn more.