Balboa High School Launches San Francisco’s First CLPC Law Academy

The initiative expands a network that has grown from six programs in 2010 to 27 across the state, serving over 3,100 students annually. While Balboa High has maintained a law pathway since 2004, the new collaboration with the California Lawyers Association’s charitable arm brings fresh resources, including professional job shadowing and structured internship opportunities. Educators hope this infusion of support will restore the program to its former prominence, helping students who are often the first in their families to pursue undergraduate degrees.

Maria Cooks, a senior associate at Murphy, Pearson, Bradley, and Feeney, will lead the new advisory council for the academy. According to CLF President Jerrilyn Malana, the foundation remains focused on building a more diverse pipeline into the legal profession by fostering civic engagement in underserved classrooms. This expansion follows successful scholarship awards for students at Bay Area institutions like Oakland Technical and DeAnza High School, further cementing the collaborative's role in local educational equity.