Mount Vernon Program

ShounBach attorney Molly Garrett, a former President of the Northern Virginia Women Attorneys Association (NVWAA) Chapter, launched the NVWAA’s Mount Vernon Initiative during her tenure in 2016 to promote diversity in the legal field and bridge the gap between legal professionals and young women interested in the law and the legal profession. Through the Mount Vernon Program, VWAA volunteers have traveled to Mount Vernon High School to discuss and present on numerous topics. In its first year, volunteers discussed various topics with the students including different law school experiences, how to prepare for and apply to law school, different legal practice areas, different jobs available to people with law degrees and more. Since its inception, the program has inspired many students to further explore a profession in the law. 

In the 2021-2022 year, with the help of Judge Lorraine Nordlund, the program was expanded to students of all genders by then Mt. Vernon Director Liz Soc further diversifying the program. In addition, due to interest in the program and in order to reach more students, the program changed from after school to in classroom in the 2022-2023 year. That same year, the program kicked off its first College Essay Month with volunteers providing students individual review and constructive critiques of their college essays. 

The curriculum and topics have continued to expand over the years, and have included:

• What students can do in high school and college to help position them for a successful application to law school.
• Discussion over different legal practice areas.
• Alternate career paths available to someone with a law degree beyond a lawyer.
• Different pathways to becoming a Judge.
• Wellness - now, in college, and beyond. 
• Diversity in the law. What does diversity mean? Why does diversity in the law matter? 
• The ways students can change lives/make a difference. 
• Legal issues that impact teenagers. 
• Personal stories and experiences shared by various speakers in different legal fields. 
• Additional topics from the Virginia State Bar's "So You're 18" publication. 

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the current Mount Vernon Program Director, Liz Soc at liz.soc@soclaw.us.