Pathways to Justice Academy - a Youth Civic Engagement Program

Program Highlights | Eligibility | Dates & Location | Testimonials

Stetson Law's Pathways to Justice Academy, formerly known as the Youth Civic Engagement program, is a free weeklong hybrid learning experience that teaches students how to empower themselves and others to become catalysts for positive social change through civic education and advocacy. Students will engage with law faculty, staff, law students, attorneys, and judges in the local community.

Also, in partnership with Community Tampa Bay's acclaimed ANYTOWN® Advocacy Academy Program, Stetson Law will continue to engage with and mentor interested participants throughout the 2024-2025 academic year.

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Program Highlights

Civic Engagement

Students will learn how to be advocates in their communities by understanding civil discourse strategies from Stetson Law professors. Courtroom visits and learning the general structure of the United States government will give students a first-hand experience in the civil process.

Social Justice Advocacy

Workshops in social justice advocacy teach students about their rights and a brief history of activism. Current law students provide mentorship by teaching students how to dissect real cases and craft their arguments.

Youth Leadership

Students learn goal-setting strategies to personally advocate for themselves and their communities. Presentations explore how youth have historically shaped civil rights movements. Guest speakers will share their experiences as youth leaders.

Learn from Law Professors and Meet Law Professionals

Judith Scully

Law Professor Scully is the director of the Social Justice Advocacy Program and co-founder of the Innocence Project at Stetson Law. She specializes in Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure as well as issues related to race and American law. Professor Scully is a passionate advocate for racial justice and reproductive health justice in the United States and abroad.

Christine Cerniglia

Law Professor Cerniglia is the director of Clinical and Experiential Education at the college of law. She has created a new course entitled Disaster Law Primer and Externship and Covid-19 and the Impact on the Civil System. Her scholarship is dedicated to disaster law and preparedness, the self-representation crisis, and legal education reform.

Eligibility

Students in the Pinellas County, Florida area who are aged 15-17 are eligible and encouraged to apply, including those who identify as underrepresented due to race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status, and other underrepresented identities.

Dates and Location

Please submit the 2024 Participant Application below by June 17, 2024.

The applicants selected for the program and their parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified directly via email. We will require a Consent Form signed by their parent/guardian to confirm their participation. 

Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.

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Testimonials

“Being in court with attorneys. It gave me more of a hands-on experience and they all were so nice. It was amazing to see that there were amazing attorneys who were people of color in my community.”

“Having open discussions and learning in a safe and welcoming environment is very important to me and this program did it exceptionally well. The topics we discussed were very interesting and the professors did a great job keeping me engaged!”

“When we got to do the case study and talk with college students. I enjoyed this part because it was very interactive, and we got to see what college law students prepare for, and then do later in their classes.”

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