 Tampa, Florida July 18, 2023 Since its inception, the Journey to Esquire®️ program, founded by attorney Joseline Jean-Louis Hardrick, has greatly impacted the lives of diverse law students. Described as "small but mighty," the program has provided much-needed support, mentorship, and resources to help these students succeed in their legal careers. Powered by donations and a dedicated volunteer board, Journey to Esquire®️ has transformed the legal landscape by empowering the next generation of diverse lawyers. As the program celebrates its fifth anniversary, Journey to Esquire®️ is ready to expand its reach and continue making a difference in the lives of even more law students. To help achieve this goal, the organization is hosting a Fifth Anniversary Brunch & Bubbly Celebration and Fundraiser event. Attendees can learn more about the program's achievements, future plans, and how they can contribute to the cause. Our Impact The program has enormously impacted the lives of the students who have participated. Logan Jackson, Class of 2023, recently shared that she felt disenchanted with her law school experience and was considering leaving law school altogether because of the struggles she experienced academically and socially. Once she joined the program as an intern, she was plugged into mentors and guidance and discovered strategies that allowed her to work within her strengths as a lawyer in training. She graduated law school a two-time champion on Stetson Law’s renowned trial team, President of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), where she spearheaded a gala featuring the founder of Stetson’s BLSA chapter, she wrote and secured publication of her article on reproductive rights in the prestigious Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice, she interviewed one of her mentors, Professor Judith Scully, head of the Social Justice Advocacy Program at Stetson and a seasoned civil rights lawyer, and she has secured a position with the State Attorney’s Office in Orlando, Florida as a prosecutor her dream job. We helped her transform her law school experience, and she emerged as a leader and a mentor and now inspires other students to do the same. Don’t just take our word for it; listen to Logan’s story here. You can find her Scholar Presentation. Founder Joseline Jean-Louis Hardrick's vision for Journey to Esquire®️ was born from her own experience as a law student and her desire to bridge the gap for minority students in the legal profession. Over the past five years, the program has provided $50,000 in cash scholarships, mentorship, networking opportunities, and skill-building workshops, contributing significantly to the success of diverse law students. "The Journey to Esquire®️ program has been a labor of love, and I am incredibly proud of the impact we have made on the lives of so many law students," said Hardrick. "As we celebrate our fifth anniversary, we are excited to embark on the next phase of our journey and expand our reach even further." The Fifth Anniversary Brunch & Bubbly Celebration and Fundraiser event promises to be memorable, bringing together supporters, alumni, and current program participants. The event will not only showcase the program's successes but also emphasize the importance of continued support to help even more students achieve their dreams in the legal profession. It features a VIP “Mimosas and Mocktails” Reception, silent auction, live vocalist performance by Jasmine Smith, Esq. and keynote speaker, Kelly-Charles-Collins, Esq. Join Journey to Esquire®️ in celebrating its fifth anniversary and take part in making a difference in the lives of diverse law students. For more information about the event and how to get involved, visit www.journeytoesquire.com or contact Joseline J. Hardrick at hardrickj@cooley.edu or 813-906-6361. About Journey to Esquire®️: Journey to Esquire®️ is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting diverse law students as they pursue their legal careers. The program empowers students to overcome challenges and succeed in the legal profession through scholarships, mentorship, networking, and skill-building workshops. Founded by attorney Joseline Jean-Louis Hardrick, Journey to Esquire®️ has been transforming the lives of law students for five years and looks forward to expanding its impact in the years to come. For more information, please contact: Joseline Hardrick Founder and President info@journeytoesquire.com 813-906-6361 
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Journey to Esquire® Expands its 2024 Scholarship & Leadership Program to Include Additional Universities Journey to Esquire®, an initiative dedicated to cultivating the next generation of legal professionals, is pleased to announce that it is expanding the eligibility requirements for its prestigious Scholarship & Leadership Program for the Class of 2024. To amplify its impact and broaden access to high-quality legal education, the organization invites incoming third-year students from Barry University's Dwayne Andreas College of Law and Florida A&M University College of Law to apply for its groundbreaking program. Journey to Esquire® has been a critical bridge to success for Tampa Bay area law students attending WMU Cooley Law School and Stetson University College of Law. Today's announcement marks a significant milestone as we extend our reach to include additional institutions in our mission to foster future leaders in the field of law. "This expansion allows us to continue our commitment to inclusivity, equity, and excellence in the legal profession," said Joseline Hardrick, Founder, and President of Journey to Esquire®. "We are excited to extend our resources, networking opportunities, and mentorship to more aspiring lawyers in these esteemed law schools." The Scholarship & Leadership Program is designed to empower law students with the tools, insights, resources, and experiences needed to navigate the challenging journey to becoming a reputable legal professional. Students who are accepted into the program will benefit from scholarships, a comprehensive leadership curriculum, mentoring, internships, and a supportive community of peers and industry professionals. Students enrolled at Barry University's Dwayne Andreas College of Law, Florida A & M University College of Law, WMU Cooley Law School, and Stetson University College of Law are encouraged to apply for the Class of 2024 Scholarship & Leadership Program. The application process is now open and interested students can apply via the Journey to Esquire® website at www.journeytoesquire.com. For more information about the Scholarship & Leadership Program, its benefits, or the application process, please contact Joseline Hardrick at info@journeytoesquire.com. About Journey to Esquire® Journey to Esquire® is a dedicated initiative striving to shape the future of the legal field by providing a supportive platform for law students. Through scholarships, leadership programs, and mentorship, Journey to Esquire® empowers students with the resources and opportunities necessary to excel in their legal careers. Press Contact: Joseline Hardrick, Founder, and President, info@journeytoesquire.com, www.journeytoesquire.com  Joseline Hardrick, Founder and President of Diversity Access Pipeline, Inc. the nonprofit behind Journey to Esquire®️was selected as a Class XI, Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Fellow.
Here's a description of the program- "The Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy is a multi-session training program designed to help a diverse and inclusive group of lawyers become better leaders. Each year a select group of participants are selected from applications submitted to The Florida Bar to become Academy Fellows. During their one-year term, Academy Fellows follow a curriculum tailored to enhance their professional development, knowledge base and experience, including attending The Florida Bar events and special educational programs. Academy Fellows are given the opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of the Bar and their role in the legal profession, while enhancing their personal leadership skills." The program is very selective and has produced many leaders in the Florida Bar. Launching the Academy was the brainchild of Eugene Pettis, the first African-American president of The Florida Bar (2013-2014). He started the program to increase diversity within the Florida Bar leadership. Congratulations Joseline! Annual Law Day Essay Contest for Middle School Students in Hillsborough and Pinellas County, FL11/17/2021 Visit this link to read the contest rules and enter your submission today!  Our 2021 Annual report is ready! We had a great year and looking forward to meting our Class of 2022. Check it out!   Looking to Give Back to the Legal Community?
Sign up to be a volunteer Want to mentor law students, develop your public speaking skills and share your wisdom from your years of practice, looking to give back and help others the way you were helped? Then volunteer with Journey to Esquire®- we are looking for lawyers to acts as mentors for our scholars and interns, board members, and speakers for our training modules. The work you do with our students will leave a tremendous impact that lasts for years! Don’ take my word for it, just listen to our students in the Class of 2021. Sign up to Join the Board Want to help, but can’t make the time commitment? Here are some other ideas: On a weekly basis- visit at least one social media page and like all posts, then share a post with a comment. Those actions increase the number of views. "@JourneytoEsquire" The goal is to send individuals to view our website, to help with ad revenue and get more interest in donating and volunteering. Small donations help a lot Start a Facebook fundraiser (no processing fees so we keep 100% of the amount raised). Make sure to share a personal story to get people interested, make a small donation to jump-start the campaign ($5), and encourage your friends to give any amount. Promote merchandise store We are marketing the merchandise store. Please like and share on social. Podcast Listen to the episodes (also helps with ad revenue) like share, subscribe on Spotify, Anchor.fm, Google Podcast, Apple iTunes, Amazon and Audible. Support our YouTube Channels Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCISwG1e_nvIfsvDZzx2j0Mg General Information: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaY_7gWRZVV2zzFaOpKqTDA Thanks for your continued help and support!  Apply TODAY!
We are looking for law students from Cooley Law School Tampa Bay Campus and Stetson University College of Law who want to become lawyers who lead, mentor and inspire. Does that sound like you or someone you know? Then put in your application today! Deadline is July 30, 2021. Scholars: https://forms.gle/QhCoRUtV6kkQHLsW8 Interns: https://forms.gle/dqpK1rgPoAFZZaPM7  “In celebration of Law Day (5/1/21) we will conduct a Writing and Art Competition to
acknowledge the contributions of people of color in the law and create interest in school-aged children in pursuing careers in the law. In 1958, the President designated May 1st as Law Day, which is meant to celebrate and strengthen the American heritage of liberty, justice, and equality under the law. The theme this year was “I May Be The First, But I Won’t Be the Last.” In recent years there have been several individuals who have become the “first” in their gender, race, or ethnicity to hold a certain position, including elected positions like President, Vice-President, Presidential Nominee for a Major Political Party, Supreme Court Justice, all of whom are lawyers. The Contest was open to all middle school students grades 6th - 8th at Franklin or Ferrell Middle Schools in Hillsborough County, Florida. We received several submissions but the following are the winners who all submitted a Fictional Short Story. The winners will receive gift cards in the mail. Winners- 1st place: Julian Becerril 2nd place: Angel Medina 3rd place: William Redner Honorable Mention: Gavin King 🎉We are so excited that Judge Mary S. Scriven will deliver the keynote speech for the Journey to Esquire® Graduation Presentations on April 24 at 10 am. You will also hear from our Scholars. And a special thanks to our sponsors. Sign up here: https://calendly.com/journeytoesquirecalendar/journey-to-esquire-2021-graduation  |
AuthorJourney to Esquire® is dedicated to promoting diversity, creating access, and feeding the pipeline. DAP scholars and Friends of DAP post here. Archives
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