Law Guild of Beverly Hills Contact: Eve Simons Law Guild of Beverly Hills 777 Holmby Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024 This program was a winner of the 1997 Law Day Activity Awards. Activity Summary: The Law Guild of Beverly Hills reached out to the community. The Mayor and City Council presented Law Day proclamation (on local TV; planned by Law Guild of Beverly Hills); former Deputy District Attorney talked to high school government classes on civil/criminal trials & local, state, federal jurisdiction; Police Lieutenant spoke to seniors on personal safety/consumer fraud; ABA books given for Senior Library; Liberty Bell Award presented; Poster contest in schools/awards at courthouse with judge speaking and presenting; Essays by students in ESL and citizenship classes as well as senior adult association (for booklet); members/spouses heard head of local FBI; museum plans future Law Day feature; high school library display. Activity Narrative: For our 30th year and Law Day's 40th year we wanted to make Law Day far reaching and meaningful. Publicity created awareness in the community. A newspaper article reported planned events, the presentation of the Law Day Proclamation was on local TV with three reruns, fliers provided publicity, posters are on display in the Courthouse, a Law Day photo with caption was in the newspaper, and all the Law Day programs emphasized its theme, history, and purpose. Our 40th year luncheon celebration highlighted freedom of the press, as the speaker, a columnist from the Los Angeles Times who covered high profile trials, spoke about the behind the scenes activities of the press. Law Day was officially declared with the presentation of the Law Day Proclamation by the Mayor and City Council to the LGBH President & Law Day Chair (arranged by the Law Day Chair). The president told about Law Day, it history, purpose, theme, and programs, and the Law Day Chair talked about the theme and Poster Contest. This was televised on local T.V., with three repeat broadcasts during the week. On May 1, LGBH arranged to have a former Deputy District Attorney, who was recommended by the Bar Association, address the government classes at the high school on the differences between civil and criminal trials and local, state, and federal jurisdictions. Intriguing hypothetical cases and high profile cases sparked interest and questions. The LGBH president told about the origin and theme of Law Day in opening remarks. About 70 students attended. In the Beverly Hills High School, the librarian arranged a display with a poster on the Constitution and the Law Day theme, and numerous books dealing with law and freedom. This will remain on display throughout May. A program for the Senior Adult Association of Beverly Hills included the history and theme of Law Day in the welcoming remarks. The president then presented two ABA books to the Association president for the Senior Adult Library. The Mayor spoke about discussions of freedom she had on her foreign travels. The Liberty Bell Award was presented to a Bailiff in the Municipal Court, who encourages the students to respect the laws and tells how in doing so they will enrich their lives. LT. Frank Salcido, Executive Officer for the B.H. Chief of Police, and a lawyer, was the guest speaker and spoke on personal safety and protection against consumer fraud. Many compliments were received for the entire program. Refreshments were served. About 180-200 people attended. A Poster Contest was held in the four elementary schools. The award ceremony was held in the B.H. Municipal Courthouse with Judge Charles Rubin speaking and presenting the awards. All participants received Law Day buttons and certificates of participation, winners in each grade received a check. The LGBH president told about Law Day. In his speech Judge Rubin incorporated the significance of the Law Day theme and referred to many of the ideas shown in the posters, recognizing the students who contributed the posters. A book on U.S. Presidents was given by the Law Day Chair to the classroom, which had full participation. A reception followed. 80 students submitted posters and all will be on display throughout May. The Law Day Chair arranged the Poster contest with the schools and the awards ceremony with the Courthouse. The court tours with mock trials for students discussed the rights provided by our democracy, how the courts work, and the concept of innocent until proven guilty. A judge and bailiff spoke with the students. Students participated in all aspects of the trial. This is an ongoing LGBH program. Students in the schools, citizenship class, and an ESL class, and members of the Senior Adult association were asked to write essays on the theme. These will be put into booklets for the school to use in the future so that students can become aware of the value of freedom from different points of view and experiences. One school was so enthusiastic they plan to expand this next year. The Museum of Television and Radio was asked to make a list for their visitors which demonstrate the freedom of the press and their role in keeping the public informed, in keeping with the Law Day theme, and to put together segments for showing in the daily auditorium programs. These could not be prepared for this year, but it has been put on the calendar for May 1 next year! Members and spouses attended an evening program with a guest speaker, the top person in the F.B.I. in Los Angeles, the second largest office in the country. Everyone's full attention was held as he spoke about the functions and challenges of the FBI. Questions and answers followed. Refreshments were served. Many compliments were received. This series of Law Day programs reached many people and groups with meaningful programs which brought attention to Law Day and provoked thought on the value of our freedoms which are truly worth celebrating. Sample Programs Home | By Audience | By Location | By Sponsoring Organization