National Ag Law Center Bridges Initiative prioritizes career development for students
“It’s important that the ag industry has a consistent pipeline of talent, and the NALC Bridges Initiative is one part of helping fulfill that from an ag and food law perspective.” —Harrison Pittman
By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Dec. 3, 2024
Fast facts:
- NALC initiative focuses on career development for pre-college, undergrad and law students
- Information on the Bridges Initiative is available online
(661 words)
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information, the National Agricultural Law Center, is prioritizing outreach to a group with tremendous impact on the future of agriculture: students.
“It’s important that the ag industry has a consistent pipeline of talent, and the NALC Bridges Initiative is one part of helping fulfill that from an ag and food law perspective,” NALC Director Harrison Pittman said.
Established in 2021, the NALC’s Bridges Initiative is a student-focused, public-private partnership that offers professional development, networking, and increased legal knowledge to pre-college, undergraduate, and law students interested in agricultural and food law issues and careers. It includes a focus on students traditionally underrepresented in ag and food law.
“It’s a way for us to get students plugged into the greater ag community, creating a legal-focused talent resource into the agricultural and food industries,” Pittman said.
Over the years, the Bridges Initiative has developed many components to prioritize students’ professional development, including the “Growing Careers” webinar series.
The “Growing Careers” webinar series offers content designed for pre-college, undergraduate, and law students, presented by ag professionals from across the industry. The webinars are free of charge and give students the opportunity to engage with ag professionals and ask them questions.
“It’s a great way for students to learn from and interact directly with professionals who are using their legal and policy background,” Pittman said. “For instance, one of our recent ‘Growing Careers’ webinars featured USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small. Other webinars have featured speakers involved with the American Agricultural Law Association, such as Caitlin Klingenberg and Austin Vincent, who are co-chairs of AALA’s Students and Young Professionals Outreach Committee.”
A recording of the Torres Small webinar, as well as all other webinars in the “Growing Careers” series, is available on the NALC Webinar Series page.
The NALC regularly partners with other student-focused organizations, such as AALA, 4-H and the NASDA Foundation, on “Growing Careers” webinars and other presentations.
“There’s strength in these partnerships, which are strategically designed to reach a wide variety of students,” Pittman said.
Another component of the Bridges Initiative is the NALC Research Fellowship program, which employs law students from around the country to work remotely with NALC attorneys and partners, conducting legal research and writing projects.
“At any given time, we have about two dozen research fellows on staff,” Pittman said. “They are located throughout the country, working remotely, and are a key part of fulfilling our national research and information mission. For example, Jill Apter, one of our current research fellows and student at Michigan State University College of Law, co-presented an NALC webinar highlighting research that she and Jesse Richardson, professor at West Virginia University College of Law, conducted on state approaches to heirs property.”
Through the Research Fellowship Program, students are also connected to numerous professional networking opportunities, such as two annual NALC conferences: the Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference and the Western Water, Ag, and Environmental Law Conference.
“It’s always great to see students at our conferences year after year,” Pittman said. “There’s something for everyone, and students especially benefit from the networking and educational focus. Connections built at our conferences can serve students very well in their careers.”
A unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, the NALC also works in partnership with the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, & Life Sciences to provide resources and communications employment opportunities to students interested in continuing their education with a focus on ag and food law.
“We want students to know that, if you’re interested in a career in the agricultural or food law fields, there is something for you in the Bridges Initiative,” Pittman said. “Students are the future of these industries, so it’s important to root them in strong networks and communities. As we continue developing and expanding Bridges, we’re looking forward to connecting with more students.”
More information about the Bridges Initiative is available at nationalaglawcenter.org/bridges.
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About the National Agricultural Law Center
Created by Congress in 1987, the National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s
leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The NALC works
with producers, agribusinesses, state and federal policymakers, lenders, Congressional
staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, students, and many others to provide
objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s
agricultural community.
The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and
works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural
Library.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen
agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption
of best practices. The Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work
within the nation’s historic land grant education system through the Agricultural
Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas
System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal
access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to
participate or need materials in another format, please contact dviguet@uark.edu as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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Media contact:
Drew Viguet
Communications & Special Projects Coordinator
National Agricultural Law Center
dviguet@uark.edu