Do you have a passion for helping your community? Are you looking for opportunities as a law school student to get involved now? Here are some tips for how you can start helping local organizations while you are a student: Tip #1: Join a Student Organization on Campus. Many campus organizations find community service projects for the group to do together. For instance, at WMU Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Tampa Bay, the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL) collaborated with Meals on Wheels. FAWL members delivered fresh produce to senior citizens in the Tampa Bay area. Students got to build a connection with Meals on Wheels, individuals in their community, and with each other. Tip #2: Reach Out to Local Non-Profits. Representatives from non-profits and other community service organizations are willing to help you find an opportunity. All you have to do is go to their website, look for their contact information, and send an email or make a phone call. They are always looking for volunteers, and most are willing to be flexible with your schedule. For example, the NOMORE Foundation seeks to connect people who are looking to end slavery, poverty, human trafficking, and more. If you have a passion for one of these causes, you can find available outreach projects on NOMORE's website: https://fornomore.org/volunteer2021/. Tip #3: Ask Other Students, Faculty, and Staff at Your School. Share your interests with individuals at your school. There's a good chance that someone will be able to connect you to the right resource or person who can assist you in fulfilling your community service goals. Don't be afraid to share what you are passionate about with others. You might be able to find a common connection between yourself and one of your peers. Doing community service as a group can help you build meaningful relationships. Tip #4: Join a Pro Bono Challenge. Florida hosts the Florida Pro Bono Law School Challenge for students. The competition allows students to work with local legal aid organizations and to have real world experience with clients. The Florida Bar Foundation hosts this opportunity, and the Foundation's mission is "to promote public service among lawyers by making it an integral part of the law school experience." This is a fantastic way for students to start getting involved in pro bono work early and to connect with lawyers who can share their advice and insight about the process. Tip #5: Reach Out to Your Local Bar Association. Several local bar associations have service opportunities for students to join. If you become a student member of your local bar association, you can subscribe to the email updates and newsletters. You will receive information regarding upcoming events and community service projects. For instance, the Hillsborough County Bar Association (HCBA) hosted its 18th Annual Judicial Food Festival & 13th Annual 5K Pro Bono River Run this past weekend. Students had the chance to volunteer with the 5K committee to help with race setup and support. This is just one example of the many outreach events that are offered. Participating in service projects as a student allows you to get involved early, to connect with individuals in your community, and to assist local organizations with their mission work. Comment below to share any of your experiences doing community service work! Scholar Presentation Success!On April 16, 2022, our scholars gave presentations about their experiences in the program and their future plans. The recording will be available for viewing on the website shortly. Thanks to our Keynote Tammy Briant Spratling and our sponsors! 2022 Law Day Writing & Art Competition WinnersRnext 1st place: Christian Guettler,
Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School Artwork - colored pencil 2nd place: Ella Owens Coleman Middle School Fictional Short Story - Untitled 3rd place: Ava Farchione Coleman Middle School Nonfiction Essay "How the Judicial Branch Reflects the Rights of US Citizens" The essays will be available to read on our next Blog post at www.journeytoesquire.
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Each of us has the opportunity to be a leader in some capacity. We are leaders in the workplace, in the classroom, in our family units, and more. Every individual has unique qualities that can be used to help them serve as a leader. Do you want to learn more about channeling your inner leadership skills? Keep reading to learn more about the importance of leadership and how you can use your talents to put your best foot forward today. What is Leadership? We can define leadership as motivating a group of people to start acting together towards fulfilling a certain goal. Leadership happens in every environment you can imagine, especially when there are people around us who provide guidance and encouragement. Leadership in a business setting typically involves a team working to reach a goal. When applying this idea to every day life, you can see that being a leader happens outside of the workplace as well. Many times, we want our friends, family, peers, or other groups to help us reach a common goal. In order to achieve these ambitions, leadership must be an important focus. What Makes Me a Leader? Are you a student? Are you a teacher? Maybe you are a parent, a janitor, or a nurse. No matter what role you are currently taking on in life, you are a leader in one capacity or another. You have people in your life who are looking to you to set positive examples. You are able to rally people together to create change and to work together. Still don't believe me? Think about one thing you are good at. Maybe you are a fantastic listener. Now, consider how you can apply this characteristic when being a leader. For example, the next time you are in a team setting or are working with people, think about how being a good listener can assist you in being a leader at that point in time. Since every person is made uniquely, there are a variety of leadership styles. You may not necessarily agree with the way some people choose to lead, and that is OK. You are able to learn from others by observing a variety of leadership styles. Then, you can determine what qualities you think make an effective leader. Remember that different leadership styles are needed depending on the setting. Based on your life experiences and personal attributes, you are able to discern what skills are needed to serve as the best leader possible in your current role. Let me encourage you to hone in on your strengths and to use them for good. Why Do We Need Leaders? The truth is that many people need inspiration or even a little bit of guidance to kickstart an incredible project or idea. Some groups need help with organization, structure, and communication. Other organizations need multiple leaders to take on a variety of roles to accomplish the task at hand. In any setting, leaders are able to connect with and understand other people. We live in a world that typically requires learning how to work with others. Leaders take the initiative to ask the right questions, to listen to all perspectives, and to empathize with other human beings. You don't need to have a title, certain level of education, or job status to be an incredible leader. You can start by thinking about how to set a good example in the roles you serve in now. Comment below to share your thoughts on what it means to be a leader. Season 3 of The Podcast |
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AuthorJoseline J. Hardrick is the Founder and President of Diversity Access Pipeline, Inc. She is also an author, professor, and lawyer and resides in Tampa Bay, Florida. Guest bloggers are students in the Journey to Esquire® Scholarship & Leadership Program. Archives
January 2024
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