January 13, 2022
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Course Invites Latino, Native American Students to WA Law Schools - Public News Service

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The three law schools in Washington state are located in Seattle and Spokane. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)
The three law schools in Washington state are located in Seattle and Spokane. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Washington state law schools are aiming to recruit more Latino and Native American students through a program at a central Washington university.

The state's three law schools at Gonzaga University, Seattle University and the University of Washington are collaborating with Heritage University on a three-week course at the school's Toppenish campus over the summer.

Andrew Sund, president of Heritage University, said some law firms have told him they have difficulty recruiting attorneys in the region.

"The idea sort of appeared that maybe we needed to have a stronger effort to encourage people from central Washington to have a future orientation, think of themselves as attorneys in the future, and perhaps work in the region," Sund explained. "It's a 'grow your own' type of concept."

Sund contended his school is a natural fit for the recruitment effort, with its successful criminal justice program, and its location on the Yakama Indian Reservation. Heritage is one of two schools in the nation designated as both a Hispanic Serving Institution and a Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institution.

Sund pointed out the most important aspect of the course is, it is being taught by faculty from the law schools, who will come to Heritage. He noted it would be difficult for students to travel to Seattle or Spokane, since many have part-time jobs. He added the cost of law school is only one of the obstacles keeping some students away.

"Perhaps harder to explain are some of the barriers people face when they have not grown in an environment where higher education was part of their life path," Sund emphasized. "When you're first-generation and just learning to navigate the process, it's very difficult."

Sund stressed the Latino population is rapidly becoming the majority in central Washington.

"It's a beginning, but it's a very important step to having a stronger, diverse society that is happening anyway, but we need to make sure that the professions are also represented that way," Sund concluded.

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source: https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2022-01-13/human-rights-racial-justice/course-invites-latino-native-american-students-to-wa-law-schools/a77380-1

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