A Fellows grant of $48,092 from the Massachusetts Bar
Foundation, the philanthropic partner of the MBA, has made it
possible to continue the Worcester portion of the Supreme Judicial
Court's Judicial Youth Corps program this year. More than one dozen
high school students from Worcester are participating in the
14-week program, which includes a seven-week internship.
The program began May 13 with a seven-week orientation to the
court system hosted at Bowditch & Dewey LLP in Worcester. The
students then complete internships within various Worcester court
departments from July 6 through Aug. 20.
"The Judicial Youth Corps program presents a unique and valuable
opportunity for us to provide Massachusetts youth with hands-on
experience that leads to a fuller appreciation of our justice
system," MBA President Valerie A. Yarashus said.
"The MBA is grateful for the MBF's continued commitment to this
important program, as well as its generosity in funding many other
community based-programs that fulfill the legal needs of many
underserved citizens of Massachusetts."
Designed for urban high school students, the Judicial Youth
Corps program was established by the Supreme Judicial Court's
Public Information Office in 1991. The program teaches young people
about the judicial branch of government and fundamental principles
of law.
"The Worcester Judicial Youth Corps program would not be
possible without the strong commitment of the Massachusetts Bar
Foundation and Massachusetts Bar Association, and I appreciate
their continuing support and partnership with the courts," Supreme
Judicial Court Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall said.
"Nothing gives me greater pleasure than seeing young people
engaged in learning about the judiciary's role in a constitutional
democracy," Marshall said. "For the past 20 years, the Supreme
Judicial Court's Judicial Youth Corps has provided opportunities
for hundreds of high school students to learn fundamental
principles of law, to form mentorships with judges, lawyers and
employees, and to work as paid summer interns in courthouses."
SJC Justice Roderick L. Ireland has been an advisor to and an
ardent supporter of the Judicial Youth Corps since it began in
1991. "Each year, I am very impressed with the level of interest
and enthusiasm of the students who apply to be participants of the
Judicial Youth Corps," Ireland said.
"The young people who are selected to be in the program gain an
invaluable learning experience. I would love to see this program in
every corner of the state. The Massachusetts Bar Foundation should
be applauded for their unwavering commitment to the Judicial Youth
Corps students."
The MBF has provided funding annually to the program since 2007,
when a Fellows Fund grant helped to return the program to Worcester
after a long hiatus.
"The foundation is pleased to once again be able to support such
a unique and worthwhile program as the Judicial Youth Corps,"
Executive Director Elizabeth M. Lynch said.
"It is so gratifying to see young people not just exposed to the
legal system, but immersed in the profession and treated as peers
by their supervisors and teachers. For the students, this obviously
instills a great sense of pride and purpose."
When the Judicial Youth Corps program originally began, high
school students in Boston were eligible. The program later expanded
to Worcester and then Springfield.
In recent years, the program was limited to Boston students due
to financial constraints. The Boston Private Industry Council has
funded the Boston portion of the program in recent years.