Growing up is hard to do. Growing up without anyone to guide you through the pitfalls of adolescence is even harder. Those pitfalls can adversely affect any youngster, but for a person of color or lower socioeconomic status, the smallest tangent, can reduce career opportunities.

Christine Seppala of S3 champions Just the Beginning Foundation

Those kids have a mentor in Christine Seppala, general counsel for Strategic Staffing Solutions (S³), and other attorneys through the Just the Beginning – a pipeline organization (JTB-APO). The program began in 1992 to provide students who need or want help the guidance about real life and real life in the legal world. Seppala is working to recruit other attorneys to the cause and, at the same time, help diversify the law student pipeline.

“This is this best time to start considering that the number of students pursuing law degrees has dropped nearly in half in the last five years,” she said. “The disparity among minorities is even greater. A promising legal career simply appears out of reach to minority students.”

Sweat equity as Mark Dinglasan, director of marketing & development for JTB, calls it, is needed from the business community to develop education modules and year-round programs. Companies such as Strategic Staffing Solutions (S³), Yazaki and Ally Financial are at the helm of this development.

“Real change is never easy and is never quick,” said Lois Bingham, general counsel and secretary for Yazaki North America, Inc. “Doctor, teacher or lawyer, as kid from Detroit, those were the only jobs I knew about. I decided on law because I didn’t think teachers would make much money. I hadn’t met or ever talked to a lawyer at that point in my life. I was clueless. Because I share my experience, is why Yazaki understand the importance of diversity.”

JTB was founded as a not-for-profit organization of judges, lawyers, and other citizens dedicated to developing educational programs to inspire and foster careers in the law among students of color and from other underrepresented groups from middle school through law school. The program starts early and reaches out to students as young as sixth grade so they will know the legal profession is a possibility for them. To help students who are ready to begin college JTB partners with many of college programs and actively helps its students find the program that is most convenient and best suited for their needs. When they enter law school JTB assists in this final push by offering a national judicial externship/clerkship referral program for qualified students.

Ninotchka Wright with JTB particpant Kyla Wright

Students like Renaissance High School Student Kyla Wright have benefitted big time. She beamed about her JTB experience. “We practiced oral arguments and learned about the law. We also got to make connections and networked. If you’re only used to only one thing and one standard of life, you’ll never do anything, but what you’re doing now,” said Wright.

Students like Wright are what JTB is looking for this summer. Students can sign up for the 2014 summer program by visiting the Detroit JTB website. Professionals of any industry are also invited to help. Contact Mark Dinglasan, director of marketing & development for details. In the three years since the Judicial Resources Committee-Just the Beginning (JRC-JTB) Summer Judicial Internship Project began, nine former JRC-JTB interns have been offered post-graduate clerkships.

As we repair our economy for today we must also strengthen our communities and prepare our children for the future.  “It’s time we all pay it forward,” said Seppala.

Paying it forward has really paid off for Kyla Wright. “I really love JTB and can’t wait to do it again this summer. I will use the skills from the program for a lifetime,” said Wright.  “For me THIS IS just the beginning.”