LEAP: Real Legal Experience. Before You Graduate.
LEAP: Real Legal Experience. Before You Graduate.
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LEAP is LUCHA’s experiential legal advocacy initiative designed to connect law students with mentorship, courtroom exposure, supervised advocacy opportunities, and real-world legal environments before graduation.
Why LEAP Matters
Why LEAP Matters
Courtroom Exposure
Observe live proceedings, courtroom procedure, and real litigation environments before graduation.
Real Legal Work
Work alongside attorneys on actual cases, not simulations or hypotheticals.
Practice Ready Sklls
Develop practical skills in litigation, legal research, professional communication, and advocacy.
Real Community Impact
Contribute to meaningful work that supports access to justice in Nashville.
How LEAP Works
How LEAP Works
Tier 1: Courtroom Exposure
Observe Live proceedings
Lean courtroom dynamics
Understand courtroom procedure in practice.
Students begin by gaining exposure to real courtroom environments while observing how attorneys, judges, and courtroom procedure operate in practice.
Tier 2: Research & Advocacy
Conduct Legal Research
Develop "Know Your Rights" materials
Support supervised legal work and advocacy initiatives.
Students begin contributing to legal and community-focused initiatives through supervised research, advocacy support, and public legal education efforts.
Tier 3: Internship / Case Support
Work directly with attorneys
Assist with case preparation
Participate in client-facing support
Students gain practical exposure through mentorship, legal support work, and participation in real-world legal operations and advocacy environments.
Tier 4: Advanced Experiential Opportunities
Engage in supervised legal work
Draft pleadings and motions
Participate in supervised advocacy opportunities where permitted
Eligible students may pursue expanded experiential opportunities, including supervised advocacy participation and practical legal experience where permitted and approved.
Pathways to Service & Supervised Practice
Pathways to Service & Supervised Practice
Pathways to Service & Supervised Practice
Pathways to Service & Supervised Practice
LEAP helps connect students with meaningful opportunities for mentorship, advocacy, courtroom exposure, and community-focused legal service before graduation.
For eligible students, LEAP may also support participation in supervised practice and pro bono service pathways connected to Tennessee legal education initiatives, including Rule 7 opportunities and Law Students for Justice recognition.
Through these experiences, students gain practical exposure while contributing to access-to-justice efforts across Tennessee’s legal community.
LEAP Participating Partners
LEAP Participating Partners
LEAP collaborates with attorneys, legal organizations, and community initiatives committed to experiential legal education, mentorship, and access to justice.
Meet the Inaugural LEAP Participants
Meet the Inaugural LEAP Participants
The inaugural LEAP participants represent the first group of students participating in LUCHA’s experiential legal advocacy initiative in partnership with attorneys, mentors, and community-based legal programs.
Ali Hendrix
Ali Hendrix
Participating Law Student | Nashville School of Law Class of 2028
Ali Hendrix is a participating law student in LUCHA’s inaugural LEAP cohort at Nashville School of Law. Through LEAP, she is gaining supervised exposure to courtroom procedure, legal research, and community-focused legal advocacy initiatives.
Jesus Gonzalez
Jesus Gonzalez
Participating Law Student | Nashville School of Law Class of 2028
Jesus Gonzalez is a participating law student in LUCHA’s inaugural LEAP cohort at Nashville School of Law. With a professional background in real estate, housing-related matters, and community advocacy, his interests include litigation, housing law, and experiential legal education. Through LEAP, he is gaining supervised exposure to courtroom procedure, legal research, and advocacy support initiatives.
Additional participating students may be added as the LEAP program expands.
Build Experience Before Graduation
Build Experience Before Graduation
LEAP connects future legal advocates with mentorship, experiential learning, professional exposure, and community-focused legal initiatives before graduation.
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