Alameda County Law Library/Alameda County Bar Association Contact: Cossette Sun, Director Alameda County Law Library 125 12th St. Oakland, CA 94607 Web: Bernard E. Witkin Alameda County Law Library Alameda County Law Day 2002 Activity Narrative: Planning and Promotion of Law Day Activities The Alameda County Bar Association Law Day Committee and the Alameda County Law Library worked together to plan and promote activities during the week of April 29th through May 3rd. Library Director Cossette Sun is an active member of the Bar Association Law Day Committee and offered the use of a library conference room to the Committee for planning activities. The Law Day Committee was assisted by the Foundation of the State Bar of California, which contributed $7,500 for the activities, the Community Focused Court Planning Group of the Superior Court, and Dr. Rachelle Di Stefano of the Alameda County Office of Education. At a meeting on April 30th, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors proclaimed the week of April 29th through May 3rd as Law Week. At this meeting the Board of Supervisors and the Alameda County Office of Education honored five organizations in the local legal community for their exemplary partnerships with education. The Bar Association Law Day Committee organized the Law Day luncheon. It was advertised through the use of Billboards in both the Main Law Library and the Branch Law Library, and with a PowerPoint presentation on the public display terminal at the Main Library. Registration forms for the luncheon were available at both library locations and librarians encouraged visitors to attend the event. During Library Week the library placed copies of historic American documents on display. These documents were incorporated into the Law Week displays in the library. The Bar Association promoted Law Day with a cover story in the April issue of the ACBA Bulletin. The Law Library and the Bar Association established a relationship with local school officials to involve middle and high school students in the Law Day activities. Law Library and Courthouse Tours The Law Library and Bar Association worked with local schools and courts to coordinate court tours on May 1st. Reference librarians provided tours of the Law Library throughout the week for high school and middle school students. The librarians talked about the American legal system and how the codes, reporters and treatises are used. The librarians included materials in the tours that was relevant to the lives of the students—such as books on dog law or music copyright—in order to show them that the law touches their lives. Each student received a packet of information concerning library services as well as the ABA pamphlet entitled "A Life in the Law." Law Day Luncheon The highlight of the week took place on Wednesday May 1st, when the Law Day Luncheon was held at the Clarion Suites/Lake Merritt Hotel in Oakland. Eleven teachers, 108 students, and over 80 lawyers and judges attended the luncheon. A number of awards were presented during the luncheon. Students from Bishop O'Dowd High School were recognized for winning the Student Mock Trial Program. Ten high school students received McKinley Foundation Scholarships. Cecilia Chang was this year's winner of the Liberty Bell Award. Mrs. Chang was instrumental in clearing the name of scientist Wen Ho Lee. She told the audience that even though she was not an attorney, she believed it was important for her to become involved in the matter of Wen Ho Lee. The theme of personal involvement in the political and legal process was continued by Eva Paterson, Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, who presented the Law Day Address. Judge Leo Dorado, Chair of the Law Day Committee, read the Law Day proclamation from the Board of Supervisors and brought the luncheon to an end with some closing remarks. Sample Programs Home | By Audience | By Location | By Sponsoring Organization