Maricopa County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, AZ Contact: Susan Hassig, Chair, Law Week Committee Maricopa County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division 303 East Palm Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85282 Activity Summary: The Maricopa County Young Lawyers Division ("MCBA/YLD") celebrated Law Day by sponsoring several activities over the course of the week. Law Week 1997 was held April 26 through May 3. MCBA/YLD planned projects, solicited sponsors, and organized volunteers to participate. Three projects provided free legal consultations: 1) Senior Citizen Law Fairs; 2) Community Law Fairs, and 3) Phone-A-Lawyer. Five projects focused on educating children about the law: 1) Courthouse Tours; 2) Essay Contest; 3) Photo Contest; 4) Mock Trial; and 5) Gold E. Locks performances. The "ABA/ADA Homebound Visits" project provided free legal and dental services to homebound elders. Activity Narrative: The MCBA/YLD's Law Week projects promoted this year's theme "Celebrate Your Freedom." The topic for the Essay Contest involved the printing of lyrics to a song describing how to build a bomb. For the Photo Contest, the students submitted photographs that represented freedom to them. The first-place winners in both divisions submitted photographs with the flag of the United States and another image of freedom. The Gold E. Locks trial taught students that individuals have the right to a trial by jury. Finally, the Courthouse Tours and Mock Trials were examples to students that the judicial system exists both to protect our rights and promote freedom. Senior Citizen Law Fairs: The goal of the Senior Citizen Law Fairs was to provide free legal consultations to senior citizens. Importantly, the MCBA/YLD recognized that senior citizens may not be able to travel long distances to obtain certain services, so it held the fairs at or near senior centers. Five senior fairs were held (one each weekday of Law Week) at locations throughout Maricopa County. This project assisted approximately 100 seniors. Community Law Fairs: The objective of these fairs was to provide free legal consultations to the general public by answering questions in various areas of the law. On April 26, 1997, two law fairs were sponsored at large malls and one fair was held in a local retirement center. This project served approximately 200 Valley residents, and approximately 60 attorneys volunteered. Phone-A-Lawyer: This project was designed to provide free legal phone consultations to individuals who were invited to call into a local phone bank. Paralegals screened callers and matched them to attorneys who worked in the particular specialized area of law. This project served approximately 250 callers over two nights. Approximately 25 attorneys volunteered for Phone-A-Lawyer. Courthouse Experience: This program was designed to introduce junior high school students to the county Superior Court system. Volunteer attorneys met the students and escorted them to various courtrooms to observe criminal calenders or civil oral arguments. Judges in each courtroom met with students to discuss cases. 605 students participated in the Courthouse Experience, and 28 attorneys volunteered. On Law Day, 205 students toured the courthouse. Essay Contest: The MCBA/YLD annual writing competition was designed for 7th through 8th graders. Students wrote an essay on whether a ban on the printing in a school newspaper of lyrics to a song describing the process for building a bomb violated the First Amendment. More than 200 student essays were graded by almost 50 local attorneys. Winners were awarded $100 Savings Bonds and plaques. The first through fourth place winners in each grade level were invited to attend an awards ceremony at the Arizona Supreme Court. At the ceremony, a judge explained the judicial process in Arizona and then presented each of the winners with their awards. Trial by Jury: This program mock-trial involved five attorneys, including a judge of the Phoenix Municipal Court, and a Department of Public Safety police officer performing a mock trial on social responsibility and civil liability arising from minors' consumption of alcohol at one of their parents' homes. The project heightened the teens' awareness of the dangers of underage drinking and the potential far-reaching impacts on other individuals. Students served as jurors in this mock civil case. The Department of Public Safety and the Phoenix Police Department brought DUI motor homes and vans for students to tour after the mock trial. Gold E. Locks: The fictional character, Gold E. Locks, was placed on trial by the State for breaking and entering the three bears' home, trespassing and property damage. The skit, performed by attorney and Judge volunteers, was presented during the Community Law Fairs at one Valley shopping mall. Children in the audience served as jurors. High School Photo Contest: High school and middle school students entered photographs depicted their idea of freedom. The winning photographs were published in the Arizona Republic. The winner in each category (high school and grade school) received a camera. The second, third, and fourth place winners received plaques. ABA/ADA Homebound Visits: The Homebound Visits were implemented to provide legal and healthcare services to individuals who, because of health reasons, are confined to their homes. The goal of this first-time project was not only to provide the services, but assess the community's needs for the services. The MCBA/YLD plans to continue the Homebound Visits, both in conjunction with dentists and with physicians. Sample Invitation Letter Sample Press Release Sample Programs Home | By Audience | By Location | By Sponsoring Organization