Nearly 300 high school students gathered Feb. 26 at the Capitol for a daylong program exploring diversity, ethics, and civility in public service and the legal profession. Organized by the California Legal Pathways Collaborative, the event provided students with a rare opportunity to meet with legislators, judges, and legal professionals. The discussions emphasized the importance of leadership, resilience, and ethical decision-making.
Students met with state Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, assemblymembers Lori Wilson and Jessica Caloza, Justice Shama Hakim Mesiwala of the 3rd District Court of Appeals, Sacramento Superior Court Presiding Judge Bunmi Awoniyi, Assembly Speaker’s Office General Counsel Emelyn Rodriguez, retired California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Assembly Principal Clerk David Bowman, and California Lawyers Association President Terrance Evans.
They represented high schools from across the region, including C.K. McClatchy, Florin, and Luther Burbank in Sacramento; Jess Bethel in Vallejo; DeAnza in Richmond; and Oakland Technical. Many of these students are part of the collaborative’s multiyear law academy programs. These programs are designed to expose underrepresented students to opportunities in law, civics, and government.
Cantil-Sakauye opened the program with reflections on her career in law and public service. She emphasized the importance of resilience, ethics, and civility. Drawing on her early experience as a deputy district attorney in Sacramento County, she recounted how initial appearances and assumptions often underestimated her abilities.
She explained that the law is a field full of conflict and disagreement, and that civility allows people to operate at their best. She encouraged students to learn from every experience, even setbacks, using them as opportunities to strengthen their foundation.
She recalled a personal motto: “Do one thing every day that scares you.”
She highlighted ethics as a cornerstone of leadership. Decisions must be made with integrity and with consideration of long-term consequences and the trust of others. “It’s easy to be cutting, it’s easy to be mean,” she said. “It’s far harder and far more important to rise above it, to be civil, and to create stability for yourself and for others.”
Wilson shared her path from local community leadership to the California State Assembly. She underscored the value of civic engagement and facilitating others’ opportunities. Wilson explained that her guiding principle always has been the belief that every individual has a right to define a high quality of life for themselves.
Wilson described how she initially pursued a career in accounting due to her aptitude for math and a desire to complete her education quickly while raising a young child. Yet she realized early on that personal fulfillment came from serving her community rather than from a professional title alone. Her work in housing policy demonstrated how thoughtful public service can impact daily life.
Her focus on transportation reflected the need to connect people to education, work, and recreation. She encouraged students to engage actively in civic life, reminding them that leadership requires courage, integrity, and kindness. “The world believes in you. We are living in challenging times that require people to show up, to do the right thing, even when sometimes it doesn’t feel right,” she said.
Bowman shared his story of growing up in a single-parent household as the oldest of four children. He emphasized how early exposure to politics shaped his understanding of civic responsibility. His mother worked in the California State Senate for more than 25 years, giving him firsthand insight into how legislation is debated and policies are formed.
Bowman reflected on his first political experience: volunteering on an Assembly campaign as a teen. Despite the early challenges of knocking on doors and persuading voters, he said, the experience taught him that meaningful change requires consistent effort and dedication. He carried that lesson into his professional life when he joined the Assembly in 2009.
“Your life has purpose. Your voice has power. Your future is much bigger than you could ever imagine,” Bowman told students. “Your starting point does not determine your destination. Your background doesn’t define your ceiling. You do belong, and people like you end up in a state gallery. That’s something we’re part of.”
Public service often involves showing up, learning from mistakes, and investing in relationships, Bowman said. His role as principal clerk entails formally reading every bill before the Assembly — a constitutional requirement that ensures legislation becomes law. He encouraged students to cultivate reliability, protect their reputation, and remain humble and teachable.
Evans shared a personal story that underscored the power of perseverance, family, and giving back. He recounted the financial challenges his family faced during his graduation from Cornell University and later law school, including nearly being prevented from graduating because of an unpaid balance. Despite such obstacles, he persisted and ultimately achieved his dream of practicing law.
Evans emphasized the importance of investing in family and community. After establishing his law practice, he provided for his parents, bought them a home, and created scholarship programs in partnership with CLA and several bar associations. Through these initiatives he has helped hundreds of students gain access to legal education and professional development.
“Your voice matters, your work matters, your dreams matter. You are not too young, you’re not too small, you are not invisible. The future is literally sitting in front of me right now,” Evans said. “We are investing in you because you are the future. You are the ones who are going to make a difference. No one else is coming to save us.”
The program was organized by the California Legal Pathways Collaborative, which was founded to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession through law academy programs in high schools across the state. Serving more than 3,100 students annually, the CLPC provides students a path from high school to college, law school, and a legal career. Many students in these programs are the first in their families to pursue higher education.
CLPC is a joint initiative with the California Lawyers Association and its educational arm, the California Lawyers Foundation. Together, these organizations provide mentorship, scholarships, and access to legal professionals, judges, and legislators. CLPC Chair Patricia Lee emphasized the importance of exposing students to decision-makers and giving them the tools to build their futures. “These conversations between current and future leaders are vital,” Lee said. “We not only bring the legal profession to the classroom, but we make certain our students interact with California’s decision-makers.”
The program also awarded scholarships to high school, undergraduate, and law school students, funded by donors invested in supporting future leaders from diverse backgrounds. Across speeches, several recurring themes emerged: Cantil-Sakauye on resilience, ethics, and civility; Bowman on the importance of showing up and being reliable; Wilson stressed civic responsibility and the impact of thoughtful policymaking; and Evans shared how perseverance, family support, and investing in others can create lasting change.
Together, their remarks offered students a blueprint for leadership: to pursue education and public service, maintain ethical standards, embrace challenges, and support the communities that helped shape them. The day concluded with students inspired to see themselves as active participants in shaping the legal, civic, and ethical landscape of California.
“The future is literally sitting in front of me right now,” Evans reminded them. “Always remember to show up, to work hard, and never underestimate the power of your voice.”