Raise the Black Bar includes activities such as tours of courthouses and Bay Street law firms
Raise the Black Bar – a partnership among York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School, the Black Law Students’ Association (BLSA), and the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) – includes hands-on activities such as tours of courthouses and Bay Street law firms.
Under the program, TDSB educators link up students who have difficulties finding pathways to law school and a legal career with Black Osgoode students, alumni, and faculty members, according to York University’s news release.
“Raise the Black Bar is designed to provide early exposure to the legal profession, demystify the law school application process and build networks of support that many Black students have not had access to in the past,” said Marcos Ramos Jr., Osgoode’s manager of admissions and student financial services, in the news release.
The news release noted that the partnership enables BLSA members to volunteer to mentor, provide academic insights, and offer personal support to the program’s high school participants.
“Our mentorship model is built on representation and relatability,” Ramos said. “Mentors often share their own journeys – including the challenges they’ve faced and how they’ve overcome them – which helps students feel seen and understood.”
The news release said the initiative seeks to help students:
“Students often express that the program changed their perception of what’s possible, while educators highlight the impact of seeing their students engaged, affirmed and excited about their futures,” Ramos said.
According to the news release, the program’s events this year included:
