Fennemore offers a peek at attorney life to students from the Be A Leader Foundation

This month, Fennemore hosted 20 Phoenix-area high school students to give them a peek into the legal profession. In association with the Be A Leader Foundation’s (BALF) Professional Shadow program, we spent the day with the students discussing the practice of law and its many opportunities. The students toured our law firm and discussed leadership with Fennemore’s CEO, James Goodnow. They learned about the skillset commonly required to manage and lead a law firm.

Partnering with BALF to grow future lawyers

BALF is a local Arizona nonprofit organization that provides scholarships, programming, and education resources regarding colleges/careers to high school and middle school students across the valley. Each year since 2020, Fennemore has invited a group of high school students to the firm in partnership with BALF’s annual Professional Shadow Week. The program focuses on motivated high school students, often from underserved areas of Phoenix, who are interested in exploring a career in law. The program provides great exposure to the profession at an early age.

Paying it forward

On a personal level, BALF’s mission is near and dear to me. After 20 years of involvement with BALF, I was recently appointed to BALF’s Board of Directors. I first connected with the organization and its founders while attending Arizona State University in the early 2000s, volunteering as a mentor at the Roosevelt Community Technology Center in South Phoenix. I continued my involvement during law school while attending the University of Arizona College of Law and became one of BALF’s inaugural scholars in 2005. Since that time, to help other students and to pay it forward, I have been proactively supporting the organization through volunteerism, mentorship, and participating in the Professional Shadow event each year for well over a decade.

Standout moments

During their day at Fennemore, the students also met with key staff members and several of our firm’s leaders and attorneys who discussed their legal practice areas and offered valuable insight into the path to becoming successful lawyers. A surprise visit and lunch-and-learn discussion with a Maricopa County Superior Court criminal court judge capped off a thrilling day for the students.

A standout moment from this year’s event was when one high school senior flexed her cerebral muscles by asking the judge questions using legal terminology and Latin phrases such as “stare decisis” and “mens rea.” The students were engaged and inquisitive throughout the day. The future is certainly bright for them.

Preparing students for higher education

Fennemore proudly supports BALF’s mission which focuses on preparing middle school and high school students for higher education and leadership. Education is transformative, and providing scholarships and access to higher education can significantly impact individuals, their families, and our communities. BALF is not only helping to break down barriers to higher education access but also opening doors to opportunities that can change lives for generations. We are always impressed with the students and their internal drive to succeed, many times against the odds.

By participating each year in BALF’s Professional Shadow program, my Fennemore teammates and I seek to make lasting positive change, empowering students from diverse backgrounds to reach their goals and open doors for future opportunities.

Travis Pacheco is an employment lawyer. He regularly advises and navigates employers through various Federal and State employment laws. Travis has litigated cases involving enforcement of restrictive covenant agreements, including noncompete agreements, and employee wage and hour claims. He has also successfully defended employers against charges of employment discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination claims filed with state and federal agencies, including the EEOC and the Arizona Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division.