10 Years of…Fostering The Next Generation of Social Justice Legal Professionals
We are in the middle of a 10 day series on the history of NMILC as part of our 10-year anniversary celebration. Each day we will be sharing highlights from one of our organization’s programs . Check back tomorrow for the next installment in the series!
NMILC’s Next Generation of Social Justice Legal Professionals program aims at increasing the representation of historically marginalized communities in the legal profession. Since 2016, more than 3,000 immigrant community members have received legal services from our fellows. Currently, 100% of fellows from this program, continue to work in the immigrant rights field.
NMILC’s Next Generation of Social Justice Legal Professionals program is a “pipeline” project to increase the representation of historically marginalized communities in the legal profession. Through our fellowships and internships, we enable those who have personal experience with the immigration system to take control of the systemic, legal, and political forces that affect their lives and their clients. NMILC fellows use their experiences to propel their careers and shape the legal field. During the multi-year full-time fellowship, fellows receive:
technical training and supervision to develop their legal acumen;
peer support to understand their role in the legal profession and how to navigate institutional barriers;
mentorship in preparing their applications for law school for paralegals;
paid time to prepare for and take the LSAT for pre-law staff.
NMILC’s part-time internships during the fall, spring, and summer offer opportunities that support students on their pre-law path earlier in their careers during high school and college. These internships are designed to reduce financial barriers, support students in their personal and professional development, and create greater access to social justice lawyering careers. NMILC fellowship and internship programs that are made possible with the generous support and partnership of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Equal Justice Works, University of New Mexico, University of New Mexico School of Law and the Corinne Wolfe Center for Child and Family Justice, the City of Albuquerque, the Albuquerque Community Foundation’s MentorMe program, and the Partnership for Community Action.
