The strong collaboration of the Boston Bar Association, the Mayor’s Office, the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC), and the
Boston Public Schools (BPS) helps establish an effective Summer Jobs Program. These working relationships allow
the program to meet its goal of expanding the diversity and inclusion pipeline
into the legal profession, while connecting the program to a larger movement to
create employment opportunities for Boston youth.
The BBA’s Summer Jobs
Program is part of Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s Summer Jobs Initiative, a city-wide
campaign to mobilize Boston’s youth workforce. When BBA Week
reached out to him, Mayor Menino praised the BBA’s Summer Jobs Program,
saying:
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"The Boston Bar Association plays a meaningful role in helping
the City of Boston reach our goal of having 10,000 students employed every
summer. Their Summer Jobs Program expertly prepares students for future careers
and offers them a glimpse into Boston’s legal community."
Mayor Menino’s
commitment is more that just words. Each year the Mayor stops by 16 Beacon
Street to speak at the BBA’s Summer Jobs kickoff celebration, where he
encourages students to take advantage of the opportunity to explore a potential
career path and gain professional experience.
In addition to the
BBA’s partnership with the City of Boston, the BBA works closely with the PIC and
BPS to offer continual support to the Summer Jobs students. The PIC is a
non-profit organization that connects students to both educational and
employment opportunities in the city. All BPS students have PIC counselors who help
prepare them for interviews and the work place. The counselors work with
the student and the employer throughout the summer to ensure that expectations
and goals are met. Executive Director of the PIC Neil Sullivan had this to
say:
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“The Private Industry Council has been working with the Boston Bar
Association for close to 20 years to offer valuable summer job experiences for
Boston public high school students. The BBA’s ability to connect students to top
law firms and legal organizations across Boston is what makes them an ideal
partner.”
To
date, 34
law firms and legal departments have committed to
hiring or sponsoring 38 BPS students. Additionally, the Boston Bar Foundation
approved funding to sponsor 10 additional students at legal nonprofit and
government agency organizations, totaling 48 jobs. The program provides a unique
opportunity for underserved youth to earn money and learn about the legal
profession through on-the-job experience.
To hire a student, or get more information about sponsoring a student for the
program, please contact Katie D'Angelo, Public Service Programs Coordinator at
kdangelo@bostonbar.org.