Minority Bar Passage Program (MBPP)
Walter H. Bentley III Minority Bar Passage Program
The Walter Bentley Minority Bar Passage Program (MBPP) is designed to improve bar passage rates of law school graduates sitting for the Michigan Bar Exam. Traditional bar review courses focus only on the multi-state portion of the exam, MBPP focuses on the essay writing portion and effective essay writing techniques to help you maximize your overall essay exam results.
The program is approximately eight (8) weeks, and includes weekly examinations, a mock bar examination, group and one-on-one essay technique review sessions, as well as lectures by local attorneys.
MBPP provides assistance in the areas of:
Essay Writing Skills/Strategy
Test Taking Skills Strategy
Time Management
Stress Management
MBPP does not include review of substantive law. Accordingly, MBPP should be taken in conjunction with a traditional bar review course to give you the ultimate edge in studying for both multi-state and essay writing sections of the exam.
Judicial Externship Program
In 2000, Judge Victoria A. Roberts founded the Judicial Externship Program (“JEP”), in cooperation with the WBA. To date, the program has placed more than 300 students from underrepresented demographic groups and economically disadvantaged backgrounds in summer clerkships with federal judges, and the Wolverine Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the WBA, has awarded these students over $400,000.00 in stipends through the generosity of its monetary supporters.
WBA strives to increase the number of law clerks who are committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession, and can bring a diversity of perspectives, based on life experiences, while employed in well-respected positions, such as partners, associates, in-house counsel, and judicial clerks in Southeastern Michigan. In line with this goal, the Judicial Externship Program was created.
To expand the diversity of students pursuing judicial clerkship opportunities, the Judicial Externship Program works in conjunction with the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan and is administered by the Honorable Jonathan J.C. Grey. The Program pairs eligible students with participating federal district and magistrate judges for a minimum of 160 hours, but up to 10 weeks. The Judicial Externship Program is a mechanism for externs to establish relationships with judges and federal law clerks, further their analytical reasoning and legal research and writing skills, and become comfortable with the decision-making process that judges employ.
Law School Pipeline Program
The Law School Pipeline Program (LSPP) aims to reduce hurdles to law school enrollment for underrepresented students with the help of The Princeton Review, the nation’s leading Law School Admission Test (LSAT) preparation course provider. The program targets Michigan residents or undergraduate students applying to in-state law schools. The LSPP will provide full tuition scholarships towards ‘The Princeton Review’s LSAT Ultimate Course,’ which combines expert in-person instruction with 150 hours of online videos and drills, practice tests, and print materials.
This partnership between the WBF and The Princeton Review was created to increase the pipeline of underrepresented students pursuing legal careers in the state of Michigan by removing a financial obstacle, the cost of LSAT prep courses. WBF leadership designed the program in response to feedback regarding challenges some students face when applying to law school.
To be eligible for the scholarship, an applicant must be a Michigan resident or undergraduate student at a Michigan university. Applicants must also plan to apply for admission to a Michigan law school. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate financial need.
Pipeline Programming
Pipeline Programming
The Pipeline Committee is responsible for developing educational programming targeted at middle school and high school students and creating initiatives to ensure a pathway to success in the legal and other professional fields. We also provide mentoring and volunteer services to Detroit grade schools.
Some of our Pipeline Programs have included the WBA “AIM” Program- Advocating, Inspiring and Mentoring Program. Partnering with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit, mentors are paired with students from Osborne High School (9th– 12th grade). The WBA Partnership with Pretty Brown Girls and SDM2 Project Eduction for Young Men.
Summer Clerkship Program
The SCP Committee coordinates the Wolverine Bar’s annual summer clerkship program, which is designed to increase the number of minority attorneys employed as partners; associates; in-house counsel; and similarly, well-respected positions within the legal community. The SCP places student law firms and corporations in the metropolitan Detroit community in furtherance of the program’s goals.
Participating firms and corporations pay the interns’ salaries directly; while the Wolverine Bar incurs program costs for interview workshops, writing workshops, training and receptions.
Past employers have included the following: