For years, students at Thomas A. Edison CTE High School had access to career pathways in fields like engineering, design, and technology but nothing connected to law. That recently changed with the creation of Pathways to Law, a student-led club that is giving students exposure to the legal field and opportunities that did not exist before at Edison.
The club was founded by Junior Tanvir Kaur, who recognized the lack of legal-related programs and decided to take initiative.
“I personally want to become a lawyer and going to a CTE school that does not offer any career educational classes relating to the legal field in general made me want to start this club,” said Kaur. “Schools should have an environment of classes and clubs that foster a student’s sense of passion. For all of these reasons, I started this club so students have an environment to grow in their field of choice and meet other people who want to do the same.”
Although starting a new club came with challenges, interest began to grow over time. “At first it was difficult to find people who were interested, but as the word spread we found people who were more committed and interested in the club,” Kaur explained. For her, being president is more than just holding a title. “To me, being president means a lot because I was trusted, but it’s also a responsibility to act as a role model and show that law is for anyone.”
For students who may feel hesitant about joining, Kaur emphasized that the club provides a welcoming and supportive space. “At the end of the day, it’s a club and we don’t do anything serious. I wouldn’t put you on the spot and make you feel uncomfortable. It’s a judgment-free club,” Kaur said.
Club member Samantha Payero said Pathways to Law provides direction for students who are interested in law but do not know where to begin.
“Pathways to Law helps students interested in law by teaching them about legal careers and showing them the steps to get started,” Payero said. “The club changes how people see law careers by showing that anyone can succeed in law with the right guidance and effort.”
In addition to learning about different legal careers, members build important skills that can be applied to many fields. “Students gain important skills like critical thinking, public speaking, teamwork, and research,” Payero added.
The club’s advisor, Mr. Ignall explained that much of the leadership comes directly from the students.
“As the advisor, I really just help organize the meetings and assist with the structure,” said Mr. Ignall. “Really, it’s the president setting everything up and planning the topics each week.”
Mr. Ignall also shared how the club helps students develop leadership skills and confidence. “It helps students develop leadership by having them make decisions about potentially controversial topics and get up in front of the class to back up their ideas with evidence,” Ignall said.
Looking ahead, Pathways to Law has several goals for the future. The club is currently working on organizing a “Know Your Rights” panel and creating informational posters to hang around the school. They also hope to invite guest speakers, including professionals who specialize in immigration law.
“We’re trying to get a panel going, and anyone will be able to come in and hear from someone who specializes in immigration,” Kaur said.
Mr. Ignall hopes the club continues to expand its impact on the school community. “I hope it inspires students to explore their interests in law, gather more information, and get exposure to different areas of law to help them decide what type of future they might want in this career,” he said.
With Pathways to Law now active at Edison, students have access to opportunities that once were not available proving that one student’s idea can create meaningful change within a school community.
