Legal Pathways works to generate equitable access to legal education and careers. Legal Pathways adopts a broad understanding of legal careers with a grounding in social justice and a commitment to fostering student empowerment. Recognizing the disparities in legal education, Legal Pathways prioritizes supporting students of demographics underrepresented in the legal field, to expand the law school pipeline and increase access to law and law-related careers for the University of Washington Tacoma students.

 
Mission and Focus:
 
  • Community Focused: Legal Pathways focuses on social justice and empowering local students, with many alumni aiming to serve the Pierce County community.
  • Success Metrics: As of 2024, the program has helped over 100 students get accepted into various law schools, including prestigious institutions like Yale Law School and the University of Washington School of Law.  Learn more about student achievements here.
  • Leadership Transition: In 2024, the program celebrated its successes after five years of operation under its founding director, preparing for its next phase of supporting legal education in Tacoma. 

 

We work to:

  • Provide students with the knowledge necessary to negotiate their way through a diverse range of law-related careers.
  • Assist UWT students to become as competitive as possible for law school and law-related graduate programs, and widen the pipeline into those careers.
  • Support and expand our community based law-related curriculum.
  • Enhance pathways for legal talent to return to our community.
  • Support and provide community outreach, education and engagement;
  • Advocate for a just legal system in our local community.

 

Origin story:

Launched in the 2018-2019 academic year with Washington State funding, the Legal Pathways program was created to increase access to legal education and diversify the legal field, particularly for South Sound residents. Founded following years of community advocacy, the program provides LSAT preparation, mentorship, and internships to support underrepresented, first-generation students and alumni. 

 
Key Historical Milestones: 
 
  • 2018-2019 Launch: Legal Pathways was initiated to address the lack of legal representation and educational access in the South Sound region.
  • Rapid Growth & Impact: Prior to the program, only 2-3 students applied to law school annually; by 2024, this increased to 30-50 per year. The average LSAT score for participants rose from 139 to 152, matching the national average.
  • Legal Pathways Fellows: The program expanded to offer specialized support, including free LSAT prep courses, application workshops, and internship placements, specifically targeting students from backgrounds underrepresented in the legal profession.
  • Expansion & Partnerships: The program has formed partnerships to enhance legal education access, including collaboration with Seattle U Law’s Flex JD program as part of a new "South Sound Hybrid Hub" initiative.