Farella Braun + Martel Law and Justice Credit Recovery Program at Thurgood Marshall High School Welcomes Judge Thelton Henderson

SAN FRANCISCO, March 15, 2013: Farella Braun + Martel is proud to announce that senior district court judge and civil rights leader Thelton Henderson will take part in the Farella Braun + Martel Law and Justice Credit Recovery Program. Judge Henderson will visit Thurgood Marshall High School in San Francisco’s Bay View/Hunter’s Point community on Tuesday, March 19 to meet with students and to answer their questions about his life and career.

The Farella Braun + Martel Law and Justice Credit Recovery Program was made possible by a charitable gift to ConnectEd: The California Center for College and Career. This event continues Farella’s deep involvement in the creation of the Farella Braun + Martel Law and Justice Credit Recovery Program, which also includes one-on-one student mentoring, field trips, and guest speakers. Launched in September 2012, the groundbreaking curriculum for the program infuses law-related themes into the school’s credit-recovery program and adds a myriad of other opportunities for students to learn outside of the classroom, and from lawyers and others in the legal field. The attendance rate for the first semester of the course was much higher than the average 45-50% rate for credit recovery programs. In fact, the average attendance rate was 72% for the class, with a number of students attending the class more than 85% of the time. Attendance rate is an important statistic, because for many students attending class is the biggest hurdle to passing. In this first semester, 75% of the students passed the class. Based on the success of the inaugural class, key parts of the curriculum are available to teachers and students on the ConnectEd website at https://connectednational.org/learn/multidisciplinary-instruction/law-justice/.

Students in the Credit Recovery class at Thurgood Marshall have been learning about the judge through the documentary “Soul of Justice: Thelton Henderson’s American Journey,” and the accompanying curriculum materials developed by ConnectEd. The visit will provide the students with a chance to interview the judge in-person about his life and work. Work-based learning opportunities that connect students to real-life professionals is the type of experience ConnectEd and Farella believe helps a diverse population of students become exposed to the wide array of career options and professionals in law and justice fields.  

“We are proud of the initial success of the Farella Braun + Martel Law & Justice Credit Recovery Program,” said firm chairman Steve Lowenthal. “This innovative program and Farella’s Diversity Pipeline Internship Program are examples of Farella’s commitment in action toward building a more diverse legal community.”

ConnectEd: The California Center for College and Career (ConnectEd) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to partner with communities to transform education systemically through Linked Learning, ensuring that all students, regardless of background, graduate ready for college, career, and life. Linked Learning combines strong academics, demanding technical education, and real-world experiences. Linked Learning students throughout California follow industry-themed pathways such as Law and Justice. www.ConnectEdCalifornia.org

Farella Braun + Martel represents clients throughout the United States and abroad in sophisticated business transactions and high-stakes commercial, civil and criminal litigation. Founded in 1962, the firm is headquartered in San Francisco and maintains an office in the Napa Valley focused on the wine industry. Farella Braun + Martel lawyers are known for their imaginative legal solutions, dynamism and intellectual creativity. With an unwavering service ethic and interdisciplinary team approach, the firm is committed to advancing clients' objectives in the most effective, coordinated and efficient manner. www.fbm.com

Contacts:
Michael Bond / Traci Stuart                         
Blattel Communications                               
415.413.4524                                                 
[email protected] / [email protected]

Cheryl Loof   
Farella Braun + Martel
415.954.4433
[email protected]

Elizabeth Stroud
Director of Communications
ConnectEd: The California Center for College and Career
(510) 849-4945
[email protected]