Aspiring lawyers in Central Washington will have a new way to earn a law degree while remaining in their communities thanks to a partnership between Seattle University School of Law and Heritage University to establish a “Hybrid Hub.” The Hybrid Hub addresses the critical need for legal professionals in underserved regions known as ‘legal deserts’ where there are not enough lawyers to meet community demand. This partnership will allow local students with aspirations to pursue legal careers, especially those with work and family commitments, to complete law school without leaving the Yakima Valley.
The Hybrid Hubs initiative builds on the success of Seattle U Law’s Flex JD program, which offers an innovative, part-time, hybrid-online legal education. By opening a hybrid hub at Heritage, Central Washington students will have a pathway to study law, pass the bar exam, and practice law locally. The hub at Heritage allows students to study in an academic setting by utilizing study spaces and other campus resources, such as internet and library access. Students will also enjoy intellectual life and in-person networking events to build community among fellow Flex JD students, Seattle U Law alumni, the local legal community, and other aspiring law students.
The establishment of the Hybrid Hub at Heritage capitalizes on the achievements of the Law School Admission Counsel (LSAC) Prelaw Undergraduate Scholars (PLUS) Program, an innovative partnership between Heritage and the law schools at Seattle University, the University of Washington, and Gonzaga University, with the goal of boosting the numbers of people of color serving as lawyers in Central Washington.
Under the leadership of Heritage University President Dr. Andrew Sund, HU has expanded its academic programs to include the LSAC PLUS Program, which puts legal education within reach of students in the Yakima Valley while also increasing student enrollment and strengthening community partnerships.
“I am honored to have helped central Washington students envision themselves serving communities as lawyers,” said Sund. “We welcome the Hybrid Hub as a catalyst for cultivating homegrown legal talent and expertise.”
“The opening of this new Hybrid Hub at Heritage University marks a significant milestone in Seattle University School of Law's ongoing efforts to make legal education more accessible and to cultivate a new generation of diverse legal professionals in underserved areas. This need is urgent in central Washington, and we are excited to work with Heritage University because of its ongoing commitment to educating people in this region,” said Seattle U Law Dean Anthony E. Varona.
Seattle U Law and Heritage University will sign a memorandum of understanding to establish the hybrid hub during a ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at 5 p.m. in the Barnhill Fireside Room, located in the Gaye and Jim Pigott Commons at Heritage University.