(Report on the 2006 Summer Legal Fellowship Program — cont’d)

 

Graduation Ceremony: The summer culminated in a graduation ceremony and reception at the U.C. Berkeley School of Law, which was attended by participants' families, internship supervisors, and mentors.  Keynote speaker James Brosnahan, senior partner at Morrison Foerster, offered encouragement to the graduates and a passionate reminder to protect the U.S. Constitution. Another highlight of the evening was hearing the students speak about their positive experiences in the Program and the strong bond they shared with each other.

 

Follow-up Mentoring and Assistance

 

We matched the summer program graduates with mentors who will provide guidance and encouragement over the course of the 2006-2007 school year, helping them pursue their educational and career goals. Mentors will help their mentees in various ways including academic tutoring, investigating colleges, and exploring different careers.

 

Our staff will also provide informal guidance to the graduates, as well as arranging free writing skills tutoring for those who are interested and producing a quarterly bulletin with educational and career information and resources. This follow-up support will continue as long as graduates wish to take advantage of it.

 

 

EVALUATION

 

We assessed our program's impact through evaluations of interns by agency supervisors, post-program interviews of participants, and a variety of participant surveys.

 

Agency Supervisors' Evaluations of Interns

 

Agency supervisors were asked to complete surveys about their interns at the end of the summer. They rated interns in various areas on a scale of 1 through 5, with 1 signifying "needs improvement," 3 signifying "average," and 5 signifying "exceptional."  92% of respondents rated their intern's overall job performance as either 4 or 5.  On ability to follow the rules, policies and dress code of the workplace, 100% rated their interns either 4 or 5.  92% of supervisors rated their interns either 4 or 5 on ability to maintain a professional demeanor, and 92% rated their interns 4 or 5 on their ability to work cooperatively with others.

 

Post-Program Interviews with Youth

 

We conducted a qualitative evaluation in which individuals who were not known to our participants conducted personal interviews with each of them at the end of the summer. In response to open-ended questions, the participants were overwhelmingly enthusiastic about their experiences.  (A few of their comments are included on page 4 under "Youth Reflections.")

 

100% of the students reported that they changed in some positive way, although the ways they changed varied widely. The most common positive change reported was increased confidence (55%).  Other changes mentioned included gaining new skills, improved speaking ability, and improved ability to network. 

 

When asked to name some things they had learned during the summer, the most common responses were communication skills, how the legal system and the government work, employment related topics (proper dress, resumes, interviewing), and better writing skills. 

 

94% -- all but one -- expressed a clear intention to pursue higher education. The remaining one student is considering college as well as joining the Marines.

 

Youth Surveys on Internship Experiences

 

The participants also completed questionnaires, containing both yes/no and open-ended questions, about their internship experiences. 

 

84% indicated that their internship enabled them to improve their skills (e.g., computer, writing, research, and speaking). 89% felt the internship enabled them to feel more comfortable in a professional environment. 95% reported that they gained knowledge, information or contacts that would help them in the future, and 100% said they met people who were supportive and helpful to them.

 

Here are some of the young peoples' comments on their internship experiences:

 

"I liked my internship because it prepared me for my future career, and it was a great environment."

 

"The people in my internship were so supportive.... I never realized that we have a city council, so this experience was an eye-opener for me. "

 

"I was able to meet with various judges and lawyers who gave me tips and their cards for future reference and help.  I really loved my internship and had a great time working there."

 

"I learned a lot about how mediation works and how to talk to others in the best way possible.... I wish I could have spent more time there."

 

 

Home | Previous page | Next page