NEWS

The Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Inc. (CLEO), is proud to announce that the Honorable Reggie B. Walton, United States District Judge, United States District Court for the District of Columbia, will give special remarks at the 5th Annual CLEO EDGE Honors & Awards Program. The event will take place the evening of Thursday, April 11, 2024.

Announcing the 2024 recipients of its CLEO EDGE Awards, which recognize excellence and achievement in the key pillars of Education, Diversity, and Greater Equality. The 4th Annual CLEO EDGE Honors Reception & Awards Program will take place immediately following our inaugural CLEO Legal Pipeline Career Expo on Thursday, April 11th, 2024, at the law offices of Greenberg Traurig

Alexandria, VA — January 26, 2024 — The Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Inc. (CLEO), is proud to announce the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) as this year’s premier Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI) sponsor. MCCA has generously provided funding for CLEO’s flagship program PLSI for another year, directly creating opportunities for more students from underrepresented backgrounds to participate.

The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) and the Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Inc. (CLEO) have announced that the two organizations are extending their partnership for an additional three years. The partnership, currently in its sixth year, provides assistance for students from underrepresented communities throughout law school and as they prepare to take the bar exam, with the aim of supporting increased equity and access in the legal profession.

In a pivotal and insightful Zoom meeting discussion, our President and CEO, J.C. Polanco, recently served as a distinguished panelist, delving into the profound implications of the ‘Harvard Affirmative Action Decision’ on diversity-focused organizations like CLEO.

Tune into the newest episode of CLEO Edge, featuring Jennifer Rosato Perea. She currently serves as the dean of the DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, Illinois. Dean Jenn has held many roles in academia, serving both in leadership and as an instructor. She is a published scholar, with many works that focus on diverse legal issues as they impact children and families.

In this episode, Jones talks with CLEO’s COO, Leigh Allen II, about her long, winding journey in the profession via the lens of generational differences and constant pursuit of gender parity. She discusses how she aims to help create space for other women and people of color to share their voices and succeed in the field the way she has been able to.

In 2021, Falk joined Truth Initiative as general counsel. Truth Initiative is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending tobacco use. In this role, Falk is responsible for providing legal advice and counsel to the organization. He is also involved in developing and implementing Truth Initiative’s legal strategies.

To anchor in CLEO’s focus on diversity in the legal profession, check out the newest episode of CLEO Edge, featuring CLEO Alumnus Bruce Jackson. Bruce studied law at Georgetown University, while developing his skillset as an advocate for diversity and inclusion. Bruce Jackson joins us to discuss his new book, Never Far From Home, released in early 2023.

To bring attention to the connection between Race & Law, check out the newest episode of CLEO Edge, featuring Gloria J. Browne-Marshall. She is a writer, civil rights attorney, and playwright who currently shares her talents as a Professor of Constitutional Law at John Jay College (CUNY).