Our Journey

The Journey to Esquire Scholarship & Leadership Program was founded in Tampa Bay, Florida, in 2018 by Joseline Jean-Louis Hardrick, Esq. Joseline saw a need for a comprehensive program dedicated to providing versatile, hands-on support to diverse law students. She created Journey to Esquire with one goal in mind: to create lawyers who lead, mentor, and inspire…one student at a time.

What Makes Journey to Esquire More than Just a Scholarship?

Curated Conversation

Students receive the “real talk” they need about the practice of law and its unwritten rules.
Meaningful Mentorship

Students are matched with lawyers who have similar backgrounds and interests.
Personalized Preparation

Students receive individual coaching for students to fill the gaps in service.

Who Do We Serve?

Religious and Racial Minorities

Veterans

First Gen College/Law Students

Disabled/Differently- Abled

Immigrants/Children of Immigrants

LGBTQ+IA

The Program aims to help historically underrepresented and marginalized law students overcome the barriers to entry and retention in the legal profession.

The program identifiers include race, gender, age, sexual orientation and identity, disability, religion, nationality and national origin, veterans, and first-generation college and law students, among other demographics.

How Do We Help?

Cash Scholarships

The scholarships range from $500 to $2,500 for each student int he program to help defray the costs of school, exam prep and admission fees.
Employment Assitance

The students get help with resume writing, cover letter, writing samples LinkedIn optimization, and mock interviews and more.
Modules

The students go through a series of training modules, a mixture of in-person, virtual, and prerecorded for flexibility, to learn about the eight pillars of the program.

Our I.D.E.A.L.S.

INCLUSION

Providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized; ensuring that people feel a sense of belonging in the workplace.
DIVERSITY

The practice or quality of including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc.
EQUITY

The quality of being fair and impartial; equity is the process of ensuring that processes and programs are impartial, fair, and provide equal possible outcomes for every individual.
ACCESS

The right to obtain or make use of or take advantage of something (as services or membership).
LEADERSHIP

The art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal.
SERVICE

Giving back to the community at large; including, but not limited to, pro bono work.