Journey to Esquire®️

"We create lawyers who lead, mentor, and inspire ... one student at a time."

We are thrilled to announce the Journey to Esquire®️ Fifth Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser with the theme "Five and Further - The Journey Continues…" on October 14, 2023, at the Chester H. Ferguson Law Center in 1610 N. Tampa St., Tampa, FL, 33602. As a prominent and respected company in the legal industry, you share our passion for diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.

Journey to Esquire®️ is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that creates lawyers that lead, mentor, and inspire, one student at a time. Over the past five years, we have helped many aspiring lawyers achieve their dreams by providing them mentorship, cash scholarships, and access to resources. Our Fifth Anniversary Celebration is a significant fundraising event that allows us to continue our mission and support our future leaders.

Want to be a part of the solution? Please donate today to an organization taking actionable steps to diversify the legal profession by preparing students to take on leadership roles, strengthen their resilience, remove obstacles to achievement, and provide support beyond graduation.

Please don't take our word for it. Here's what our students have to say about the program:

When asked, "Did you gain from this program what you hoped you would? Why or why not?" they responded:

• "Yes, I did. While interning for Journey to Esquire as the Blog Editor, I truly enjoyed learning more about the program's mission: IDEALS. Professor Hardrick also connected me with [a] Judge, who has been an incredible mentor thus far. I also enjoyed listening to and learning from the presenters during the Saturday modules."

• "Since I started law school, I've had this overwhelming feeling of inadequacy. I've felt that I'm not competent enough to be a lawyer or that I don't have the innate skills to make me a "good" lawyer or advocate. In joining JTE, I hoped that I would be able to see more attorneys that were maybe once in my shoes or once felt similar to how I feel and that is now successful and have gone on to inspire students like myself. I hoped to be able to be vulnerable in a safe space. I hoped to gain invaluable and practical skills you can't gain from reading a case book. I can confidently say that my expectations were met, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to participate in this program!"

• "Yes, as a first-generation law student, I lacked the information I needed to get into a clerkship or big firm; I had never seen it as an option. JTE has given me the confidence boost to feel like I can achieve a job in these places. I am not excluded. The modules and the guest speakers had the best information one can get in law school."

• "I gained more from this program than I could have ever expected. I learned so much about navigating the legal field successfully while being aware of your mental health. I received so many resources for bar prep, and I have met in person a few attorneys I met in this program."
• "Yes. I gained new contacts with attorneys that look like me."
• "Yes! This program gave me: (1) tools to understand how to maximize my success as a law student, (2) a network of support to help me with my law school journey to esquire and beyond, and (3) confidence in my ability to be successful as a lawyer. The modules and Saturday meet-ups perfectly complement my academic studies, and I'll be forever grateful for this program."
• "Yes, I did. When I first learned about this program, I knew that this program could help me become the lawyer I knew I could be. Participating in this program has helped me land very helpful mentorships. It has also helped me prepare for the bar exam, and it has helped me with various resources that can help me prepare for the bar exam. Through each workshop, I have learned how to transition between law school and my career."
• "Yes. I am now more confident overall and feel empowered to seize my future."
• Yes, coming into this program, I wanted to gain more insight into being a minority lawyer. This program allowed me to listen and talk to other law students and practicing attorneys, giving me different viewpoints on many topics.