2024 SLA Program
Student Law Academy ("SLA") 2024 has two in-person components: the Legal Pathway and the Job Shadow. Read on to learn more about these two distinct sessions.
Legal Pathway
Selected SLA Scholars, who are rising juniors through seniors in high school, participate in three educational sessions each morning from June 3-28, 2024 (excluding June 19 in observance of Juneteenth). During the sessions, Scholars learn from legal professionals on a variety of topics. The Legal Pathway continues the SLA tradition of providing exposure to careers in the legal field and an overview of the legal system. Each Scholar is assigned a Mentor as they share ideas and connections over lunch once a week. The Legal Pathway program culminates in a SLA Graduation on June 28.
Job Shadow will run from July 8 -26
We are thrilled to provide returning SLA Graduates with an in-person rotational internship opportunity and mock trial experience from July 8 - 26, 2024. These returning Scholars, having already completed the Legal Pathway in previous years, are placed at different law firms, courts, and government agencies to job shadow legal professionals within a different office each week. Each Scholar is assigned a Mentor to help them prepare for their job shadow opportunities and to assist them in building a portfolio to ready them for future career opportunities. These Scholars also visit different field trip locations to see law in action, including the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, United States Courts Western District of Missouri, Missouri Court of Appeals - Western District, and Kansas City Immigration Court. The Job Shadow program culminates with a Mock Trial and an Ice Cream Social on July 26 at KCMBA headquarters.
If you are a KCMBA member interested in volunteering, e-mail [email protected] and view the volunteer guide packet below for all of the opportunities.
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 students who are attending Kansas City’s school districts, especially those in historically marginalized areas, 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
Please contact Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation at [email protected] with questions or other ways to get involved.
Thank You to SLA 2023 Sponsors!
Summa Cum Laude
![Ketchmark & McCreight law firm logo](/images/KCMBA/KCMBF/Student%20Law%20Academy/Sponsors/Ketchmark%20Logo.png)
Magna Cum Laude
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Cum Laude
Bill Martucci & Kelly Martucci
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Order of the Coif
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The Law Office of Dana M. Outlaw
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Kamillia Scott
Tamara Veit ![](/images/vurs.png)
Other Contributors
Thank you to The M.R. & Evelyn Hudson Foundation for their ongoing support.