Inspiring the Next Generation of Legal Leaders

Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts newsletter- At the end of November, Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Nicola Henry-Taylor worked with the Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition (PLDIC), the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. to host a series of dynamic civic engagement and career exploration activities for students across the region. Throughout the week, local youth participated in the PLDIC’s Legal Career Pathways Program (LCPP) – an initiative designed to cultivate homegrown legal talent and strengthen a diverse pipeline into the legal profession. As part of the program, students engaged in hands-on activities including interactive fact patterns, “career captures” and a mock-trial preparation exercise. They also had the opportunity to tour the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Courtroom and hear from court staff who all shared insight into their daily responsibilities and spoke about their career paths. The week culminated with a Saturday program where Judge Henry-Taylor joined PLDIC leaders and local practitioners for a career panel and discussion. In early December, students returned to the courthouse to present the full mock trial they had earlier prepared for with volunteer attorneys. Among the volunteers was a senior at Duquesne University who will be pursuing a law degree and who first became interested in the profession after participating in this same program as a teen – proof of how initiatives like these can inspire confidence and help young people truly see themselves as future lawyers, judges and leaders.

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