LEGALLY BLK FUND

“Thanks to the invaluable backing of Amplify Her Foundation, Legally BLK Fund is proud to inaugurate our EmpowerHer Pre-Law legal institute, designed for high school and college-aged young women of color in NYC. This grant serves as the cornerstone of our innovative initiative, granting us the necessary resources to provide essential leadership development, mentorship, and exposure to the legal profession. With this crucial support, we’re breaking down barriers, fostering opportunities, and empowering future attorneys, equipping them with the tools to shape the legal landscape in and beyond NYC. Amplify Her Foundation’s support is pivotal in fostering a more diverse and inclusive legal environment, ensuring that every young woman of color sees herself as an integral part of the legal profession’s future. The grant also allows us to provide stipends for program participants, further supporting their involvement and commitment to the initiative.”
— Talia Scott, Founder and Executive Director, Legally BLK Fund

MISSION 

Legally BLK Fund is dedicated to supporting aspiring Black women attorneys. Only 2% of attorneys in the U.S. are Black women. While this percentage is shockingly low, it is reflective of limited resources and the additional hardships that Black women face as they attempt to enter the legal industry. Legally BLK Fund cuts through common barriers that disproportionately impact Black women - lack of mentors in the field, limited knowledge on the process, financial costs to access quality tutoring and admissions consultants, and a community of others. Its mission is to provide Black women with the tools, knowledge and confidence to achieve their legal aspirations.

 
 

GRANT PURPOSE & IMPACT

Amplify Her Foundation funding will support the pilot of a new initiative, called the EmpowerHER Pre-Law Institute (the “Institute”), a comprehensive and empowering program designed to support young women of color in New York City who aspire to become future attorneys and learn more about the legal profession. The goal of the Institute is to provide the necessary tools, mentorship, and guidance to enable these talented individuals to achieve their dreams of entering the legal profession and making a positive impact on their communities. By providing a comprehensive pre-law education, mentorship, and a supportive community, the Institute strives to break down barriers and open doors for aspiring attorneys who will reshape the legal landscape in New York City and beyond. The Institute will target 50-100 young women of color in New York City high schools and colleges who are interested in learning more about opportunities in the legal profession. 

The Institute would encompass Saturday in-person programming once a month at NYU Law and virtual panels and workshops. Each young woman would get paired with a woman mentor who is currently a practicing attorney or a current law student. Monthly panels will cover the following topics: an introduction to the various fields of law (i.e. fashion and entertainment law, etc.), a writing workshop, a mock law school class, personal branding, professional etiquette, networking, resume, and interviewing skills, applying to and navigating college, the ins and outs of law school, and mental health. The last session will be a final celebration and ceremony for the young women who complete the program at an NYC-based law firm.

With support from the Amplify Her Foundation, Legally BLK Fund will expose 50-100 young women to  the legal profession through the EmpowerHER Pre-Law Institute, a year-long program to equip them with leadership skills and empower them to become future leaders in the legal profession and in their communities.