Before a would-be lawyer faces the stress of passing the bar exam, there is the anxiety that comes with just starting law school.

Birmingham law firm Balch & Bingham decided a few years ago to help prepare those who might be most anxious among that group.

As part of its diversity outreach, the firm focused on women, minorities and those who were the first in their family to go to law school.

Balch & Bingham prepares new law school students with Birmingham boot camp from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

On July 28-29, Balch hosted its sixth Susan B. Livingston Boot Camp for Success for 36 students getting ready to start law school at 10 locations throughout the Southeast.

The program is named in honor of the late Susan B. Livingston, a partner and former chair of the diversity committee at Balch who created the program to encourage diversity in the legal profession. Mrs. Livingston kicked off the program in 2011, with approximately 20 law students from Cumberland School of Law.

Lawyers from varying practices and types of law answer questions from the students at the Balch & Bingham boot camp. (Michael Tomberlin/Alabama NewsCenter)

The students heard from lawyers in various firms and fields and were given tips for studying, what tools to buy to help them through law school and even tips on networking and public speaking.

Doug Kauffman, chair of diversity of Balch & Bingham, said the firm noticed several years the need to increase diversity in the legal profession.

“We began doing a program that is designed to help them do better in law school – make better grades in law school so that they become better candidates – but also answer questions for them about what it’s like to be a lawyer, what are the various careers that are out there for being a lawyer,” Kauffman said.

When it comes to settling nerves, the program is a success, according to Amber T. Jones, who is entering Mercer University Walter F. George Law School in Georgia.

“It creates a lot of anxiety going back to school after being out for 10 years and being in the workforce, but I feel very reassured now about what I can expect in some ways to overcome obstacles that all law students will eventually go through,” she said.

Three dozen students going into 10 different Southeastern law schools attended this year’s Balch & Bingham boot camp. (Michael Tomberlin/Alabama NewsCenter)

Jonathan Marcelo, who is entering Florida State University College of Law, said it was beneficial talking with practicing lawyers since there are no lawyers in his own family to get that kind of feedback from.

“I wanted to be involved because I’m the first in my family to aspire to be a lawyer and I wanted to learn more about the experiences in law school,” he said. “My dad used to work for Con Edison that provides electricity in New York and I saw that the firm deals with representing electrical companies and what not, so I figured that would be a part of what I wanted to get into.”

The students are appreciative of the program and even help to make it better for following students.

Kauffman said they fill out a survey after the boot camp, and the firm reaches out to them after their first year of law school to see if what they learned at the boot camp was beneficial and what they could do to improve it or make it more relevant.

Kauffman said six of the law firm’s interns last summer were past boot camp graduates, so the firm is making a connection.

“I am never more proud of my firm than I am when I come to this event, and we do a lot of great things here at Balch,” he said. “When we do this event, I’m just very proud that our firm is a part of this – that we’re giving back to the legal profession.”