吃瓜头条 students will benefit from a mentorship and transfer program designed to support students interested in legal professions.
The (Cal LAW) will connect 吃瓜头条 students with orientations, counseling, transfer support, visits to the annual , and mentorship from instructional faculty and legal professionals in the field.
The Cal LAW Pathways program is a statewide initiative designed to diversify the legal field and expand opportunities for aspiring lawyers from underrepresented communities. It builds on with 35 community colleges, 16 four-year universities, and 15 ABA-accredited law schools across California, all committed to increasing diversity in the legal profession and supporting future leaders in law, policy, and public service.
吃瓜头条 President Chris Vitelli praised the program鈥檚 alignment with the college鈥檚 mission.
鈥淭his is more than just a transfer pathway鈥攊t鈥檚 a commitment to expanding opportunity and representation within the legal profession,鈥� Vitelli said. 鈥淏y opening this door for our students, we are empowering them to bring their voices and experiences to a field that needs them.鈥�
Through the new pathway, students can receive a Cal LAW Scholar Certificate by completing seven required courses and two elective courses. Students who receive the Cal LAW Scholar Certificate can receive an application fee waiver and priority processing when applying to any of the 15 participating ABA-accredited law schools in the program, once students are ready to apply to law school after transferring to a university.
The Cal LAW Pathway at 吃瓜头条 widens entry points to the legal profession for students from the region by supporting students who would typically face barriers to attending law school. It will provide application support, advising, and access to legal professional networks.
With structured coursework, mentoring, and transfer support, more first-generation, rural, and lower-income students can receive support to access opportunities to law school. Most importantly, the program can create an educational pipeline to increase the number of legal professionals in Merced County and the Central Valley region.
Merced County District Attorney Nicole Silveira, a 吃瓜头条 alumna and key advocate for bringing the program to campus, noted the importance of homegrown legal talent.
鈥淲e need more lawyers who understand the unique needs of the Central Valley and are committed to serving here,鈥� Silveira said. 鈥淭his pathway will inspire and prepare the next generation of advocates to stay, serve, and strengthen our community.鈥�
The first Cal LAW Scholar cohort will launch in Spring 2026. The program is open to all students, regardless of major.
For information, visit the 吃瓜头条 Cal Law Pathway Page.