"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.
Our Mission
SLA aspires to serve as a future pipeline to diversify Kansas City's legal community. Its mission is to provide underprivileged 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 judicial system.
What We Do
SLA collaborates with local law firms, courts, and other legal entities to provide students with a dynamic rotational summer internship program in June 2020. 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 rising seniors in high school as SLA interns.
The long-term vision for SLA is the cultivation of a Legal Pathway that connects teachers, industry professionals, and law schools to build a curriculum that supports students' interest in the legal profession, both in and out of the classroom. The Legal Pathway will provide the opportunity for students to gain a jump start on their futures through work on legally-related projects, guidance and mentoring from legal professionals, access to college credit, scholarships, and much more.