Judicate West executive personally pledges $75k to fund Black law student scholarships in California

A $75,000 scholarship pledge to the California Association of Black Lawyers will fund three years of pipeline programming, empowering the next generation of Black law students and actively elevating their representation in legal education across California and nationwide.

Var Fox Yerganian, executive vice president and co-founder of Judicate West, made the commitment in honor of his parents, Clara and Ardashes Yerganian, directing the funds to CABL's scholarship program, which awards a minimum of $5,000 annually to law students navigating a profession where Black enrollment and graduation rates trail other demographic groups. The investment aims to stabilize and grow a program central to CABL's effort to address persistent disparities in access to legal education and the profession.

"It is a true privilege and a blessing to support the California Association of Black Lawyers' scholarship program," Yerganian said. "Investing in the education and development of future legal leaders is profoundly meaningful to me, both as a way to give back to the legal community and in honor of my parents. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to an organization whose vision and advocacy strengthen both the legal profession and the communities it serves."

CABL President Tamara C. Michael said the contribution comes as the organization enters a new phase of growth.

"CABL is a statewide organization operating as an affiliate of the National Bar Association, the nationwide Black bar association," Michael said. "Founded in April 1977, the organization was built to expand its reach and impact across California and serve as a bridge for attorneys statewide."

The pledge reinforces the organization's core programming, she said.

"It allows us to sustain our scholarship program over the next three years and increase our impact -- whether through more recipients or higher award amounts. We currently offer scholarships annually, targeting at least $5,000," Michael said. "We're genuinely grateful for this partnership. Statistically, Black students are the least represented group -- not only in law school enrollment, but in being supported through to graduation."

CABL's pipeline program reaches students before they enter law school.

"The Pipeline is a cornerstone of what we do," Michael said. "We work with law students, high school students, middle schoolers and, in some cases, elementary school students. Each year we host a Law Day, bringing students to federal court in the Bay Area and to the California Supreme Court -- exposing them to legal careers early. We also send attorneys into community college paralegal and pre-law programs to facilitate discussions for students considering the profession. The goal is straightforward: expand access for students who want a legal career but lack the resources, the networks or the roadmap to get there."

Michael said her own path to the law reflects those gaps.

"I grew up in a small town in Monroe, Louisiana, where I didn't know any lawyers and had no clear path to law school. A teacher introduced me to teen court to build leadership skills, and that was my first real exposure to the law. As I moved through school, I knew I wanted to be an attorney but had no idea how to get there -- what classes to take, what came after graduation," she said. "I took a break after college, worked at a law firm as a paralegal, and that experience confirmed it. That trajectory is exactly why pipeline work matters so much to me."

The organization is also restructuring to expand its funding base.

"This year we're launching the CABL Foundation, our 501(c)(3) arm," Michael said. "Previously operating as a 501(c)(6), the new designation opens us to a broader range of grants and programming. The foundation's focus is twofold: helping students find the right path to law school, and ensuring they have the resources to sustain themselves once they're there -- whether that's tutoring, bar prep support or funding to reduce debt."

Mentorship and experiential opportunities remain central to the model.

"We're trying to demystify the process -- match students with mentors, guide them on coursework, create internship opportunities. This year, one intern joined us for our entire summer advocacy session in Sacramento," Michael said. "She met the secretary of state, sat with legislators, got a real look at the profession. We also connected law students with member attorneys who had summer openings. That's the model. Ultimately, we want to provide stipends so students can take those opportunities without financial barriers."

Michael said this year's conference theme, Reclaiming Our Shine, marks a return to the bold advocacy the organization was founded on.

"It's about being at the forefront of the issues that matter, using our collective education and experience to advocate for change," she said. "For the first time, students from our pipeline program will be presenting awards at the conference. I want them in the room with these professionals. I want them to see themselves in this space."