Christian & Small was pleased to partner with the Birmingham Education Foundation in its Bridging the Gap program by hosting 32 ninth grade students from Huffman High School at its offices on Wednesday, March 15. Christian & Small attorneys and staff discussed law firm operations, provided an overview of the civil litigation process, and spoke of the various pathways to becoming a lawyer. The program is an outgrowth of the firm’s annual Nonstop Advocates community engagement commitment, which is focused on education.
“It was an honor to participate in the Birmingham Education Foundation’s Bridging the Gap program, and we are proud to do our part to help increase the number of students in Birmingham City Schools who are career and life ready,” Managing Partner Deborah Alley Smith said. “The Bridging the Gap program provides students with the opportunity see first-hand the variety of job options that exist in a single business – like a law firm, for instance – and to become well-versed in the number of career opportunities available to them after graduation.”
Smith, along with Christian & Small Marketing and Business Development Director Leslie Scarborough, Human Resources Manager Laurie Lorino and Controller Patti Young-Adamson, welcomed the students and provided an overview of the law firm’s back-office operations. Partner Richard E Smith, Associate Hannah T. Kennedy, and Paralegal Sheryl L. Riley discussed the interdependence of roles during the civil litigation process, and Partner James B. Carlson and Associate Irving W. Jones spoke with students about how their careers prior to becoming lawyers shaped their legal ambitions.
“The Birmingham Education Foundation is extremely thankful for great partners such as Christian & Small who consistently go above and beyond,” said CeCe Lacey, Birmingham Education Foundation Program Specialist. “It was evident throughout the entire day that this team is dedicated to providing a meaningful and insightful experience for our Huffman students. This site visit embodied everything that Bridging the Gap is about, exposing students to the wide varieties of career pathways that are available to them by interacting with professionals across the city.”
The Birmingham Education Foundation’s mission is to increase the number of students in Birmingham City Schools that graduate college and go on to have a successful life and career. The foundation helps equip students with the knowledge and provide them with the structure to set goals for their futures. In addition, the foundation connects them to a diverse network of people, resources, and opportunities to achieve their goals and supports their ongoing progress.