Deer Valley High School Law Academy Winner of State Bar Award

In September, at the State Bar’s Annual Meeting in Monterey, the Deer Valley High School Law Academy (DVLA) received the 2010 Education Pipeline Award, an honor awarded by the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California. Nominated by the Contra Costa County Bar Association, DVLA received this honor for its “outstanding efforts of law-related educational programs that train and support students to become interested in the judicial system and careers in the law”.

Award Recipients, including Deer Valley High School representatives Scott Bergerhouse, Co-Principal (front, center); Janet Muirragui, Law Academy Teacher Leader (front, right); Dan Mahoney, Law Academy Principal (front, second from right); Clarence Isadore, Co-Principal (front, second from left).

Launched in 2009, DVLA creates a source of engagement for the diverse student body in the school district. “The DVHS Law Academy accomplishes multiple goals. The program successfully provides student awareness about the judicial system and knowledge about the legal profession. Equally important is the fact that persons of color are encouraged to enter the pipeline of successful, rewarding careers in the law,” explains Richard Frankel, Chair of the DVHS Law Academy Advisory Board and Partner in Frankel & Goldware, LLP. By providing hands-on learning experiences and attorney role models and mentors who can teach, inspire, and support students to college and career pathways, DVLA helps expand the diversity pipeline of applicants for the legal profession.

This positive focus on diversity and hands-on learning forms the foundation of the DVLA and helped propel it to the top of the State Bar’s list of nominees for the 2010 Education Pipeline Award. Congratulations, DVLA!

For more information on the Law Academy, and to find out how you can get involved, please contact Michele Vasta at mvasta@cccba.org or visit our website at www.cccba.org.