Project SELF  Promoting Educated Youth

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Santa Ana Teens Putting Summer to Work for Them

For many high school students, summer is about going to the beach and hanging out at the mall with friends. But what many of them don't know is that summer is the best time for students to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. This summer was very different for several Santa Ana high school students. These students were busy getting noticed.

In February, over 100 applications were submitted for a paid summer internship to work in law firms across Orange County. Of the applications received, 59 were selected.

Since 1995, over 600 Santa Ana high school students have been placed as interns at Orange County law firms and law-related businesses. Project SELF (Summer Employment in Law Firm) provides low-income, minority high school juniors a hands-on summer internship. The program is run by the Orange County Bar Foundation in partnership with the Orange County Chapter, Association of Legal Administrators.

We have found that Project SELF helps our target population by reducing their risk of juvenile delinquency and providing positive life and career options. The Project SELF opportunity is so important because youth need exposure to professional career fields, such as the legal community. Because of their socio-economic conditions and cultural limitations, most of these students cannot achieve this exposure without our assistance. They desperately need adult role models and mentors, and they need to know it is possible to go on to college and establish a successful career. Project SELF addresses these needs by providing youth with positive alternatives for spending their summers, access to professional and career environments they have never been exposed to, and positive mentors to help them with goal setting and college preparation.

After completing the program many Project SELF interns are hired to work at the law firms they once interned for. Most go off to college and at least four have continued on to law school. Through Project SELF, law firms and lawyers are making a big impact in the lives of Santa Ana youth.