Blog
ELPO Law Continues Legal Pipeline Project in Local High Schools
by Ashley Carter
English, Lucas, Priest and Owsley, LLP (ELPO Law) created a program in the fall of the 2017/18 school year to help mentor students who would like to enter the field of law. The goal of the program is to help diversify the field of law by ensuring that students of all backgrounds and socioeconomic status consider law as a career option.
The Legal Pipeline Project works to bring a variety of legal professions into high school classrooms, making representatives from the legal field available to discuss what educational paths students should pursue if they would like to pursue law as a career. The program has increased its scope since its creation to also provide opportunities for insight into careers in law enforcement as well as those available through the 911 Dispatch Office, Warren County Regional Jail, etc..
New this school year, the project was divided into a fall and spring session. Students from Warren Central and Warren East High Schools participated in the fall, while South Warren, Greenwood and Bowling Green High School students completed the program this spring. The project kicks off with an in-person presentation introducing the program and includes an interview with an attorney from ELPO Law as well as a law enforcement officer. The project concludes with the much-anticipated field trip. Students have the opportunity to witness a courtroom session in progress at the Justice Center, a tour of the Warren Co. Regional Jail and the Bowling Green Police Department, and a panel discussion with a variety of legal professionals such as Jamie Spinks Meredith from the Warren County Attorney’s Office.
Students walk away from the project with a better understanding of the legal field and the opportunities available to them whether they pursue a post-secondary education or enter the work force right after graduation. “People from all backgrounds enrich the legal profession, challenge our way of thinking and help us better represent the people of our community,” says Bob Young, managing partner of ELPO Law. “We truly believe in the Legal Pipeline Project and believe more students would consider the field of law or law enforcement if they know what opportunities will be available to them.”
The Legal Pipeline Project will resume in the fall for the 2025-2026 school year.
