GILBERT NEWS

Gilbert Associate Teaches at Summer Legal Institute Sponsored by Just the Beginning

Organization Encourages Students of Color to Pursue Careers in the Law

Earlier this week, Gilbert associate Ife Agwu served as an instructor in Just the Beginning’s Summer Legal Institute, teaching a seminar that prepares high school students for oral arguments before a panel of legal professionals.

The Institute, hosted by Howard University Law in Washington, D.C., is a five-day legal immersion program for students of color and those from underrepresented communities across the country.  Ife, who is a 2021 graduate of Howard Law School, volunteered for the Institute in 2022 and was invited to teach this year.  She joined Gilbert in 2021.

Just the Beginning strives to help build a legal profession in which lawyers and judges reflect the backgrounds and perspectives of the populations they serve.  Their Summer Legal Institute seeks to “light the spark of recognition” that a path to a legal career is possible for the next generation of diverse lawyers and leaders.

“I’m honored to be invited to be an instructor for Just The Beginning’s 2023 Summer Legal Institute,” Ife said.  “Partnering with organizations like JTB is very important to me considering I never participated in, or even knew about such programs when I was in high school even though I’ve wanted to be a lawyer since elementary school. I’m excited to be a part of this much-needed pipeline program and was very excited to work with these young scholars!”

Gilbert LLP is a Washington-based law firm specializing in litigation and strategic risk management, insurance recovery and complex dispute resolution.