Tulsa County Bar Association Contact: Timothy A. Carney Gable Gotwals Mock Schwabe 2000 Boatmen's Center 15 W. 6th St., Tulsa, OK 74119 Activity Summary: There were many components of Law Week, including a law fair to promote awareness of legal and social services available in the community, careers in the law to educate and inform high school students about the law, Lawyer in the Library and Project home life to assist a group home for the disabled, and essay and a poster contest, Speakers Bureau and mock trials to promote awareness of the law in grade school and junior high students, and River Run and the Law Day golf tournament to raise funds for charitable organizations and projects. Activity Narrative: TCBA sponsored numerous activities to expand community awareness of Law, to encourage participation in legal issues by members of the public, and promote community outreach and legal-related education. LAW FAIR Law Fair was held at Eastland Mall on April 26. Promoting the theme of'Celebrate your Freedom, the Law Fair included 31 organizations presenting valuable information about services provided to the community. TCBA also presented an on-line demonstration of legal resources available through the Internet, and information about other resources available to assist in securing legal-related information and services. Among legal services organizations participating in Law Fair were the American Civil Liberties Union, Legal Services of Eastern Oklahoma, Oklahoma Indian Legal Services, and Oklahoma Disability Law Center. Law enforcement participants included Project DARE (Drug Awareness), Highway Patrol, and Oklahoma Air and Army National Guard. Community and social services participation included DVIS (Domestic Violence Intervention Service), Call Rape, Child Abuse Services, Family and Services, Oklahoma Human Rights Commission and Social Security Administration. Other organizations include The League of Woman Voters and Tulsa Urban League. Their presence provided an opportunity to generate community awareness concerning legal rights, and legal and social services available to the public. CAREERS IN THE LAW More than 70 area high school students participated in this day-long event on May, 1 A number of practicing lawyers from different areas of specialization met with the students, discussed their practices, and answered questions from the students. The students also toured the federal courthouse and spoke with District Judge Sven Holms during this highly informative and educational day. LAWYER IN THE LIBRARY The Tulsa County Law Library was the site for this all-day program on April 27 in which practicing lawyers volunteered their time to provide free legal advice to members of the public. Many people were able to receive valuable legal and at same time lawyers were able to promote the law. RIVER RUN The general public participated in the 5K and 10K races known an River Run, sponsored by TCBA as a kick-off to Law Week on April 25. Lawyers participated in the run and volunteered their time to help with this event. The net proceeds, approximately $9,200.00, went to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. LAW DAY GOLF TOURNEY TCBA's Young Lawyers Division sponsored the Golf Tournament on May 3. Lawyers volunteered their time to organize to organize and oversee the event, and lawyers and members of the general public were invited to participate. The net proceeds are earnmarked for charitable projects and programs in the community. Local businesses donated equipment, trees and other items. ASK-A-LAWYER In cooperation with the Oklahoma Bar Association, more than 40 local lawyers volunteered time from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 1 to answer legal questions posed by members of the local community. More than 400 telephone calls were taken, and a portion of the program was aired on an Oklahoma Education Television Association TV broadcast. LAW DAY LUNCHEON More than 200 local attorneys and citizens, including the Oklahoma Bar Association President and a number of state federal judges, attended TCBA's Law Day Luncheon on May 2. The keynote speaker was Bill Kurtis, who produces and hosts Ace and Emmy award winning television programs, including "American Justice" and "Investigative Reports" for the Arts and Entertainment Network, and "The New Explorers With Bill Kurtis" on PBS. The message of Mr. Kurtis' speech was that lawyers have a special calling and a special obligation to the public. They should communicate clearly and honestly with the public, promote the goodness of the profession through deeds, not words, and should uphold those basic truths established in the Constitution at all costs. ESSAY AND POSTER CONTESTS TCBA received and judged numerous posters and essays from area students in these annual contests. Prizes, including a $500 first place cash prize, were awarded at Law Fair. These contests highlighted the Celebrate Your Freedom Theme. MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAMS Through the Speakers Bureau and Mock Trial programs, TCBA promoted the 1997 theme Celebrate Your Freedom in a number of local schools. Several TCBA members volunteered their time to speak with elementary students on a variety of legal-related topics, and to conduct mock trial to assist students in understanding our legal system. TCBA is proud of its 1997 accomplishments and believes that through its numerous events and programs it furthered the ideals of Law Day, promoted the "Celebrate Your Freedom" theme, and generated and expanded public awareness and interest in the law. Sample Programs Home | By Audience | By Location | By Sponsoring Organization