Alliance between ITESO and Anade opens new opportunities for law students

Judith Morán

Social responsibility, ethics and the promotion of human rights are some of the principles shared by ITESO and the National Association of Corporate Lawyers (Anade), which led both institutions to sign a collaboration agreement.

Pro bono services in projects linked to ITESO and a scholarship as an intern associate of Anade for the person who graduates with the best average of each generation were the points of the agreement highlighted by Jorge Fernández, director of Administration and Finance of ITESO.

“This agreement opens opportunities to develop research, training, and professional development projects, allowing us to combine our expertise on topics of common interest,” Fernández said. He also acknowledged Anade’s commitment to the quality of legal practice and service to society, which aligns with ITESO’s mission.

Regarding the scholarship that Anade will award to the graduate with the highest average in each generation to join as an associate or intern associate, he emphasized that it is "a recognition of their effort and an opportunity to accompany their first steps in the profession."

Marysol del Río, coordinator of the Bachelor of Laws program, highlighted the benefit of students in this program being linked to a bar association with the history of Anade, a non-profit organization with a presence in several states of the country.

“It is completely consistent with the profile of students we want to train (…) we are committed to a theoretical-practical model in which a high sense of social responsibility and an ethical profile are formed,” he said.

The academic also shared her enthusiasm for the strengthening of pro bono work in Professional Application Projects (PAP) through the agreements with Anade. “This is a wonderful opportunity for them [the students], working alongside specialists of your caliber; in addition to opening doors for them, it will foster practical learning,” she said, adding that in this exercise, students will understand that becoming a lawyer requires more than just completing a degree; it demands constant professional development.

Azucena Marín, president of Anade Jalisco, highlighted that for the bar association it is very valuable to establish ties with academic institutions such as ITESO.

Legal professionals, he said, are facing many challenges in matters of rule of law, professional ethics, and social responsibility.

The signing of the agreement, which took place on October 1, was also attended by Marcos del Rosario, director of the Department of Sociopolitical and Legal Studies (Dsoj); Verónica Silva, coordinator of the Dsoj's PAP; Gerardo Castillo, coordinator of the Ignacio Ellacuría, SJ Legal Clinic; and Edgar Josué Ayón, coordinator of the Master's Degree in Law.