California Lawyers Foundation Establishes Its First High School Law Academy in Fresno

FRESNO, CA  (October 29, 2025) – California Lawyers Foundation (CLF) announced today it has partnered with Bullard High School to establish its first-ever California Legal Pathways Collaborative (CLPC) law academy in Fresno. CLF is the charitable arm of California Lawyers Association (CLA), the largest volunteer bar association in the state with 50,000 members.

CLPC’s multi-year law academy bring civics engagement, government, and the law to classrooms throughout California. Students learn directly from legal professionals and are given special opportunities to meet with judges and legislators, hear court cases, attend symposiums, and experience firsthand an array of legal career opportunities.

“Our Foundation is focused on key issues such as civic education and preparing students to become active and engaged citizens, and building the pipeline into the legal profession,” says CLF President Jerrilyn Malana, who is an attorney in San Diego. “We are excited to work alongside Bullard High School to share our long-term commitment to help develop civic-minded students and inspire them to pursue careers in the legal profession. Through our law academy, we strive to empower the next generation of leaders and change-makers.”  

A key supporter of the partnership is Judge Pahoua Lor, who made history as the first Hmong female judge in California when she was appointed to the Fresno County Superior Court by Governor Newsom in 2022. Lor grew up in Fresno and is passionate about education and giving back. “I am so excited about the number of lives we are going to touch. We are telling students that we believe in their dreams,” she explains.

Bullard High School has offered a Law and Social Justice Pathway to students in coordination with Fresno City College, California State University, Frenso, and San Joaquin College of Law for several years. The collaboration with CLF strengthens Bullard High School’s program, providing new opportunities for scholarships as well as greatly expanded mentorship and networking avenues with judges, lawyers, and other legal professionals.

“We want to bring more relevance to teaching. This new partnership specifically includes mentorship by people in the legal profession who work as lawyers and in other justice system capacities right now,” says Ralph Vasquez, Coordinator of College and Career Readiness for Bullard High School. “Our students are our biggest strength, and we want to build connections with law firms in our community to give our students job shadowing, internships, and job possibilities.”

Fresno City College political science instructor and Law Pathway Faculty Champion, Kau Vue, also champions the new partnership. “We want to be very intentional,” says Vue. “When students are making the transition into college, we don’t want them to become lost. If individuals have an interest in the law, or the legal field, we are here to help them. We provide a foundation.”

With the establishment of the CLPC academy in Fresno, there are now 25 law academies positioned across California, with more than 3,100 participants annually. Fully 100% of academy graduates go on to pursue a higher education. It is important to CLF that the CLPC academies be located in both large, metropolitan areas such as San Diego, as well outlying communities. In addition to the newest academy in Fresno, programs have been initiated with the Pacific Law Academy in Stockton and Antioch’s Deer Valley High School, both located in California’s Central Valley.

CLF recently awarded more than $50,000 in scholarships to students attending high school, undergraduate, and law school programs, funded by generous individuals who are concerned about providing an educational pathway for students from diverse backgrounds who hope to have a career in the legal field.

“We seek to expand and develop more law academies in California to engage as many students as possible,” Malana shares. “I highly encourage educators and administrators, regardless of the size or location of their high schools, to connect with California Lawyers Foundation and explore the potential to bring a law academy to their communities.”

To learn more about supporting CLF and its academic and scholarship programs, please visit: https://calawyersfoundation.org/.

To learn how to bring the CLPC law academy program to your school, go to: https://calawyersfoundation.org/our-work/youth-initiatives/

Media Contact:

Janett Cabanero
janett.cabanero@calawyers.org
415/760-3782