|
One of my favorite parts of writing this newsletter is occasionally stepping aside and letting the next generation tell their own stories. This week, I'm proud to welcome the 2026 Legal Pathways Program cohort for the third installment of our Next Generation Voices series. I will continue to occasionally invite our young people to share this space with me because their perspective is vital as we shape our city's future.
We are part of the 2026 Legal Pathways Program cohort, a group of more than 50 high school, undergraduate, and law students from across the Memphis area brought together by a shared interest in the law and a desire to serve our community.
Just one year ago, this program launched with 12 students. In only its second year, Legal Pathways has grown to more than 50 participants, reflecting a commitment to expanding access to mentorship, opportunity, and careers in the legal profession. Created by Mayor Young and the City's Chief Legal Officer, Tannera Gibson, and made possible through the leadership of Deputy Chief Legal Officer Cheryl Hearn, Temiika Gipson, and dozens of attorneys, judges, law firms, and community partners, the program is designed to expose students to the many pathways a legal education can provide while preparing the next generation of legal and civic leaders.
Over six weeks, we explored careers in law, government, and public service through firsthand exposure to Memphis' legal community. The program immersed us in experiences rarely available outside of the classroom, from courtroom observations and legal workshops to collaborative research projects and conversations with distinguished legal professionals. We analyzed legal documents and memoranda, conducted case research, developed our own arguments, and applied legal reasoning to real-world scenarios while gaining a deeper understanding of how the justice system operates.
 The City's Legal Pathways Program is in its second year, learn more here.
We observed proceedings in Municipal, Criminal, and Federal courts, witnessing everything from routine hearings to complex sentencing proceedings. We also had rare access to Tennessee Supreme Court justices, federal judges, and members of Shelby County's judiciary. Rather than simply observing from the gallery, we engaged directly with members of the judiciary, who answered our questions, explained judicial reasoning, and reflected on their personal journeys to the bench. Learning extended well beyond the courthouse as we met with attorneys, prosecutors, defense attorneys, city attorneys, judges, and public officials working across criminal law, civil litigation, municipal law, corporate practice, government, and public service. By sharing their professional journeys and explaining how legal professionals shape public policy, advise government agencies, and advocate for their communities, they demonstrated that a legal education can open doors to a wide range of meaningful careers.
Chief Gibson often reminds us that "You cannot be what you cannot see." That philosophy served as the foundation of the Legal Pathways Internship. By opening courtroom doors, fostering meaningful mentorship, and providing unprecedented access to legal leaders, the program empowered us to envision ourselves in careers that once seemed beyond reach. As the cohort concludes, we leave with more than an introduction to the legal profession. We have been shaped with the knowledge, professional relationships, and confidence to become the next generation of leaders serving Memphis and beyond.
Marina Bailey – Rising Junior at the University of Mississippi
Alivia Blissett – Rising Junior at the University of Memphis
Skyler Brown – Rising Sophomore at the University of Memphis
Taylor Crutcher – Rising Junior at Louisiana State University
Ava J. Elmore Smith – Rising Junior at the University of Memphis
Honiyah Hooper – Rising Freshman at Vanderbilt University
Kyle Jones – Rising Sophomore at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Kaylon Lamb – Rising Senior at Germantown High School
Galina Thompson – Rising Senior at DeSoto Central High School
|
