Page 13 / De iure September 2018
Arab students reach new heights of prosperity
climb in final first and second year grade
averages, putting Arab students closer
to the overall average of 80. Moreover,
we are witnessing a significant increase
in the number of Arab students with
above average grades, and a rising group
of students with excellent grades. These
academic achievements are imperative;
leading law firms will usually not consider
hiring students with averages lower than
80. TAU Law regularly tracks the rate of
success in finding internships, and we are
delighted to report a record hiring of Arab
students in leading law firms this year.
TAU Law is passionate about ensuring that
all students prosper. In recent years, the
Faculty has taken active steps to improve
the personal experiences and academic
achievements of its Arab students by
implementing a pioneering program
designed to boost their success.
Prior to the program commencing in 2012,
Arab students constituted approximately
5% of the student body and achieved, on
average, low grades. Students reported
feelings of alienation and exclusion, and
found it difficult to find internships in
prestigious law firms and public sector
positions. The program was developed
to respond to these needs. Each year is
built to enhance different aspects of the
students’ academic journey at TAU Law
and to empower them to reach their full
potential. In years one to three, Arab
students are provided with academic
support, financial support and incentives,
and social activities. The fourth year is
dedicated to preparing them to becoming
successful young professionals.
Now in its sixth year, the program has
been immensely successful. In its first
three years of operation, the number of
Arab students increased dramatically and
they currently number approximately
20% of our incoming class (50 students
per year). The vast majority of students
are accepted to TAU Law due to their
high achievements, and only very few are
accepted through affirmative action. As
a result of this significant increase in the
number of Arab students, TAU Law has
become a more diverse environment: you
can hear Arabic when walking the halls,
see a more diverse student body, and most
significantly, obtain a much wider scope
of opinions and experiences in classroom
discussions. Arab students report feeling
more welcome and less alienated, and
better integrated both in the classroom and
in other aspects of faculty life, such as Law
Review Editorial boards, research assistant
positions, Moot Courts and legal clinics.
Significantly, we have also seen signs of
grade improvements: namely a 2-point
Adv. Alaa Haj Yahia
“There’s no doubt that Arab students face
many challenges during their studies,” says
Adv. Alaa Haj Yahia, Arab Student Support
Program Coordinator. “The program was
designed to respond to these challenges
and help each and every student reach
their full potential. It makes me very happy
to observe the growing rate of success
in finding internships and see how well
Arab students integrate into the various
programs at TAU Law. I am delighted
and extremely proud of the Faculty for
investing time and resources into helping
the Arab student population defeat their
difficulties and achieve new heights of
prosperity and success.” •