California Lawyers Foundation (CLF) has partnered with Balboa High School through its California Legal Pathways Collaborative (CLPC) program to establish the first CLPC Law Academy program in San Francisco.
CLPC is the highly successful high school education program of CLF. Its multi-year Law Academies were first established in 2010 to bring civics engagement, government, and the law to underserved classrooms, where 50% and as high as 90% of students are identified as “at promise.” CLPC’s mission is to provide a pathway for students interested in the legal field and to have a legal profession which more closely represents California’s population.
With the new partnership in San Francisco, what began as six CLPC Law Academies has become 27 programs positioned across California in both large metropolitan areas and smaller communities, with more than 3,100 participants annually. A record number of high school seniors graduated in May 2026, and most will pursue higher education this fall.
“Our Foundation is focused on key issues such as civic education and preparing students to become active and engaged citizens, and building a diverse pipeline into the legal profession,” says CLF President Jerrilyn Malana, who is a chief deputy district attorney with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. “Through our CLPC program, we are committed to developing civic-minded students and inspiring them to pursue careers in the legal profession.”
Balboa High School has offered a Law Pathway for its junior and senior students through the San Francisco Unified School District and the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) since 2004. According to program director and educator, Michael Rosenberg, “The law pathway helped take Balboa High School from one of the most challenged high schools in our district to one of the best schools.” He explains that unfortunately as a result of COVID, some program opportunities were diminished.
“This new partnership with CLF and CLPC will allow our program to be even more relevant and offer more timely resources for our students. Law mentorships, job shadowing, field trips, and the curriculum itself will help our students,” explains Rosenberg, who teaches law, economics, and civics at the high school. “Our new Advisory Council team will help expand our rich history of providing resources. Not only will we get back to where we were, but we can push forward and take our Law Academy to new places.”
CLPC Founder and attorney, Ruthe Ashley, played a crucial role in taking the needed actions to reinvigorate the law pathway for Balboa High School students. “CLPC has wanted to have a Law Academy in San Francisco for a long time,” Ashley shares.” It’s the people who approach me and say, ‘I’m interested. Our school wants to do something more,’ that grow our program. It’s the enthusiasm from people that make it all happen. CLPC’s structure is comprehensive. We include sophomores, juniors, and seniors, and we have a long track record to help build programs and bring people together. But it’s the educators and our Advisory Councils which bring independence to each school.”
Mariah Cooks – President, Charles Houston Bar Association (CHBA), and a senior associate with the law firm of Murphy, Pearson, Bradley, and Feeney in San Francisco – will serve as the CLPC Balboa High School Advisory Council Chair. When asked why she volunteers her time, Cooks shares, “I live and work in San Francisco, and I want CHBA to be deeply intentional about engaging with our local community and organizations. I’m grateful CHBA can help carry the torch forward – building on the work that the Bar Association of San Francisco has done and to make the Law Academy program better and stronger than ever. After listening and learning about Balboa’s needs, I know our work here will be groundbreaking.”
She adds, “It is absolutely an honor to serve and uplift young people who may not recognize their own gifts, she says. “I was mentored as a law student – I didn’t even know a lawyer, let alone a Black a lawyer, until my first year of law school when CHBA took me under their wings. When students connect with lawyers from diverse backgrounds and who look like them, they begin to believe in themselves.” Cooks adds that several CHBA members have volunteered to join the CLPC Advisory Council and mentor students in classrooms, courtrooms, and at events, continuing the association’s long legacy of advocating for civil rights, mentorship, and diversity in the legal profession.
“We say very clearly to our students that they are going to be politically, economically, and socially participating in their communities,” says Rosenberg. “We want our students to advocate for their families and friends and to do that, they need to know how to access and active those resources – that’s advocacy.”
In his 24th year as an educator, Rosenberg attended 10 schools in just 12 years. “I see my students. I was them. I like helping kids who are having the most challenging time. The Law Academy can lift them up. It can lift up the whole space, and the students leave knowing they have been a part of something.”
More than 60% of students attending Balboa High School identify as Far East Asian or Latinx. Some are first generation Americans, and most will be the first in their families to go to college. “We want our students to see themselves on undergraduate campuses, law school classrooms, and ultimately as attorneys in courtrooms,” notes Rosenberg. “Because of our location in SF, we are a vibrant community and a small town. We are able to connect with leaders, policy makers, and organizations as a result. Our relationship with CLPC is special, and we are fortunate to have such committed Advisory Council members who are willing to share their time and knowledge with our school.”
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