Legal Prep

Legal Prep Charter Academy is a free, open-enrollment public charter high school located in West Garfield Park. The school began as the vision of two lawyers who recognized that the lack of equal access to outstanding educational opportunities at the high school level was contributing to the lack of diverse lawyers and set out to fix the problem. With the support and encouragement of the legal and business communities, their dream became a reality. In the fall of 2012, Legal Prep opened its doors with the mission of providing a high-quality, legal-themed, college-prep experience to students in underserved communities that rivals the opportunities found in private and selective enrollment schools.

Legal Prep’s curriculum cultivates compassion, self-motivation, advocacy, and reflection in students, so they graduate not only with the skills to succeed in college but also become advocates for themselves and their community. All students take a substantive law class each year, where they develop critical thinking, as well as in-depth reading and analytical skills. In addition, students participate in a unique experiential learning program. Students are paired with law firms and corporations throughout the city, where they take monthly field trips to learn negotiation and oral advocacy skills, as well as professionalism and career options. Students also have the opportunity to participate in clerkships, summer enrichment programs, and college exploration trips. By providing students with the opportunity to see themselves in the role of lawyer, engineer, and business entrepreneur, Legal Prep and its supporters are changing the way students see their future and the trajectory of their lives.