The Center for Institutional and Social Change at Columbia Law School (CISC) develops frameworks and strategies for reducing mass incarceration, advancing educational opportunities and achieving anti-racist, equitable and inclusive institutions. Paralegal Pathways Initiative (PPI), one of the core programs of CISC, aims to amplify the talents of formerly incarcerated individuals by providing skills-based legal training and connecting them with professional mentorship in preparation for careers in the legal field. The PPI model, co-created with participants and law school students, emphasizes a shift to an asset-based approach: one that recognizes the value of experience and enables more fulfilling, sustainable careers for its participants.