IRVINE, Calif., May 28, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the opportunity to participate in a day in court, work alongside lawyers, learn office skills, and be exposed to professional career fields, a record-breaking 68 students have been placed as interns throughout 53 Orange County law firms and law-related businesses through the Project SELF (Summer Employment in Law Firm) program, which provides low-to-middle income high school juniors with a hands-on summer internship.
The paid, eight-week internship will begin Tuesday, June 24, 2014.
Participating law firms include:
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Allen Matkins, Irvine, one of the leading real estate law firms with over 220 attorneys in California
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Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, PC, Newport Beach, home to more than 100 attorneys across California and Nevada
- Rutan & Tucker, LLP, Costa Mesa, the largest full-service law firm in Orange County
Interns will participate in two program-related field trips. The first is a Career Day at the University of California, Irvine, July 10, 2014, featuring a welcome from the Founding Dean of UCI School of Law, Erwin Chemerinsky, a tour of the law school, and a career day panel. The second is a tour of the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District in Santa Ana on July 22, 2014. Students will be greeted by Justice David A. Thompson and the other Justices on hand. They will hear from attorney Janice M. Patronite, Esq. on the role and responsibilities of the court system, take a courthouse tour and hear oral arguments. The Appellate Court Justices will then have a Q&A session with the interns. Interns will also have the opportunity to meet court staff and learn about their jobs and roles in the court system.
Since its inception in 1995, 795 students have participated in the Project SELF program. This program is for students attending high schools within the city of Santa Ana. A total of 135 applications are accepted and undergo the rigorous selection process initiated in local Santa Ana high schools and include written and in-person applications. This year's group of participating students is the largest in the history of Project SELF.
ABOUT PROJECT SELF: Project SELF (Summer Employment in Law Firm) provides low-to-middle income Santa Ana high school juniors with the opportunity to have an eight-week, paid summer internship at a law firm or law-related business while gaining valuable educational and work experience. The program is a collaboration between two non-profits: the Orange County Bar Foundation (OCBF) and the Orange County Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators (OC-ALA). Additionally, the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) assisted in Project SELF's inception in 1995 and has continued to support the program. Since its inception, 795 students have participated in Project SELF. The annual Project SELF Recognition Dinner will be held Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at the Chuck Jones Center by 24 Carrots, 3321 Hyland Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA. http://www.ocbarfoundation.org/programs/project_self.html
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION: OCBF is a non-profit organization strengthening Orange County youth and families through our unique, award-winning programs including numerous health and education programs specifically designed and implemented to be gender specific. All programs are culturally appropriate and sensitive for the target population to be served. http://www.ocbarfoundation.org/
https://www.facebook.com/OrangeCountyBarFoundation
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ADMINISTRATORS (OC-ALA): OC-ALA is a membership association that provides educational and networking opportunities to improve the quality and competency of legal administrators. OC-ALA has more than 145 members in the Orange County area and is a chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators, which consists of over 10,000 members worldwide. http://www.orangecountyala.org/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Orange-County-Chapter-Association-of-Legal-Administrators/147997038599937