Courtesy photo.
COCONINO COUNTY — The Superior Court in Coconino County was honored to co-host and participate in the first annual Arizona Legal Futures event with the Arizona Judicial Branch’s Commission on Diversity, Equality, and Justice (CODEJ).
Legal Futures is designed to expose high school students from diverse backgrounds to the legal profession creating a pathway to a potential future career in law. The program involves judicial officers, attorneys, and paralegals who engage with students during the program and organized activities. Last year, the program was held in Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma, and was expanded to Flagstaff this year.
On Friday, April 14, 2023 twenty-five students from Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy, Flagstaff High School, Coconino High School, Northern Arizona University, and Coconino Community College gathered in the Jury Assembly Room. Diverse speakers presented and facilitated the event. This program took place over the course of four hours. Statistics on the lack of diversity in the legal profession were presented at the start of the event to showcase to students just how much they are needed in the profession. Afterward, students split into small groups to work on a real-world scenario, incorporating diverse ideas and advocacy into the exercise.
Judge Stacy Krueger (Coconino Superior Court), Paralegal Kimberly McClure (Perkins-Coie LLP), Attorney Whitney Cunningham (Aspey, Watkins, and Diesel, PLLC), and Attorney Charles Doughty (DNA Legal Services) all spoke individually about challenges and obstacles they encountered in their careers; non-traditional paths to law, as well as advocating for those from diverse backgrounds.
“I was so impressed by the level of engagement and enthusiasm from the students,” Judge Krueger commented.
After the conclusion of activities, students were given a tour of the courthouse, posed with photos at the Judge’s bench, and had the opportunity to meet with recruiters from both NAU and CCC.
Through its various programs, initiatives, and partnerships, Arizona Legal Futures aims to advance diversity and inclusion in the legal industry in multiple ways. This includes promoting equal opportunities for career advancement, advocating for fair and unbiased hiring practices, supporting underrepresented groups in the legal profession, and creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all legal professionals to thrive.