Ahead of this year’s academic year, a pipeline program, created by retired federal judge and current Jones Day lawyer, Ann Claire Williams, has dutifully prepared 91 first-years (1Ls) for law school in Illinois. The initiative, aptly named “Jumpstart”, aims to equip students, particularly those with little or no exposure to the legal profession, with the knowledge and skills necessary to build successful and purposeful journeys in law school.
As part of the program, several esteemed members of the academic and legal community have contributed to its operation. The list includes notable names such as Stephanie Villinski, Deputy Director of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism; Tania Luma, Assistant Dean of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity at Loyola Chicago School of Law; and Jennifer L. Rosato Perea, Dean of DePaul University College of Law; among others.
Williams, a former U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, believes the Jumpstart program serves a vital role in introducing the next generation of legal practitioners to invaluable experiences that would set the foundation for their career. Their involvement underscores the collaborative commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and educational opportunities within the field.