Augusta Bar Association Contact: Laurel L. Payne, Law Day Committee Co-Chairperson Augusta Bar Association, P.O. Box 2043, Augusta, GA 30903 E-mail: lpayne@kilstock.com AUGUSTA BAR ASSOCIATION LAW DAY Activity Summary: The Augusta Bar Association sought to expand its Law Day activities to include more community outreach programs. In addition to the traditional Middle School Speaker program, the Bar also implemented a poster contest for elementary school students and a mock voir dire program for high school students. The Bar again held its basketball game for charity and recognized the State Bar of Georgia’s “Great Day of Service” by working at Habitat for Humanity homesites. Bar members also took time out to play in the annual golf tournament and attend the Law Day Banquet in recognition of Law Day. Activity Narrative: I. Educational Programs     A. Middle School Speaker Program This program, which the Augusta Bar has been sponsoring for several years as a Law Day activity, is always a great success in terms of educating our young people about Law Day and the legal system as a whole. This year, 24 attorneys spoke at 11 middle schools to approximately 1,000 students about Law Day, the legal system, and the legal profession.     B. Elementary School Poster Contest The poster contest was a new Law Day program in 1999 for the Augusta Bar Association. Over 100 elementary school students submitted posters created around the Law Day theme of “Celebrate Your Freedom.” All the students who participated were recognized with a Letter of Appreciation and the first and second place winners from each grade will receive Law Day certificates. The Bar believes that this activity helps the younger students think about the freedoms they have in this country and how our legal system is vital in protecting these freedoms. Based upon its success this year, the Bar hopes to continue and expand the program for Law Day 2000.     C. High School Mock Voir Dire Program This program was also a new Law Day program for the Augusta Bar Association in 1999. Two local attorneys, one of whom prosecutes death penalty cases with the District Attorney’s office, spoke to students at a local high school about the jury selection process in the context of a death penalty case. The Bar believes this program educates high school students about the critical role of jurors in our legal system and will encourage them to willingly serve when they are selected as jurors in the near future. The Bar hopes to expand this program to other area high schools as part of its Law Day 2000 activities. II. Other Community Service Programs     A. Great Day of Service This year annual Great Day of Service, sponsored by the Younger Lawyers’ Division of the State Bar of Georgia, was held on May 1, 1999, and incorporated into the Augusta Bar Association Law Day activities. Nine members of the Augusta Bar spent several hours of their Saturday working on three different area Habitat for Humanity homesites.     B. Law Day Editorial Each year, an Augusta Bar Association member submits a guest editorial on or near Law Day to inform the public of this holiday and to remind them of the essential role of the rule of law in our society. The editorial was not only published in the Augusta Chronicle as it has been in years past, but was also included this year in the Columbia County News-Times and the Waynesboro, Georgia True Citizen.     C. Jawbones/Sawbones Basketball Game This event is held annually around Law Day to benefit local charities. This year, the over $6,000 in proceeds went to benefit the Rape Crisis Center and SAFE Homes of Augusta. This program is a good way for area lawyers to join with area doctors to have fun together and to support worthwhile community programs. III. Bar Programs     A. Annual Law Day Golf Tournament The annual Law Day Golf Tournament was held on Sunday, May 16, 1999. This year, 53 bar members and guests participated. Everyone had a good time and many prizes were awarded. This year, the only female participant won the tournament with a low net score of 70.5 and received the prestigious “Mulherin Plaid.” This jacket (modeled after the Masters’ green jacket of course!) is given each year to the winner of the tournament and is named after a local Superior Court judge and avid golfer.     B. Annual Law Day Banquet The annual Law Day Banquet was held on May 20, 1999. This year was one of the most well-attended with approximately 200 bar members and guests on hand. The chairman of the Law Day committee reported on the Law Day activities and a local businessman and philanthropist, Jack B. Patrick, was presented with the Liberty Bell Award. The Liberty Bell award is presented annually to a lay member of the community whose community service is worthy of recognition. The Bar was honored to have Judge R. Lanier Anderson, Chief Judge of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, as its keynote speaker. Chief Judge Anderson spoke about the bar and bench’s responsibilities in the legal system. Sample Programs Home | By Audience | By Location | By Sponsoring Organization