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It's No Debate
Young Lawyers Can Make a Difference in Philadelphia
Veronica J. Finkelstein
What inspired you to become a lawyer? Perhaps it was a dedicated high school public speaking teacher who encouraged you to join the debate team. Perhaps it was a family friend who praised your critical thinking skills. The odds are good that someone saw your potential and encouraged your interest in the law.
As young lawyers, we have an incredible opportunity to inspire the next generation of Philadelphia lawyers. I challenge you to provide something positive to the students of Philadelphia either through the organizations mentioned in this article or through other volunteer opportunities.
Mock Trial
One great way to get involved is by volunteering as part of the John S. Bradway High School Mock Trial Competition. The Bradway Competition, sponsored by Temple-LEAP and the Young Lawyers Division of the Philadelphia Bar Association, brings together hundreds of Philadelphia area high school students to enact a one-hour trial. Participating schools range from the area's most elite private schools and the city's poorest public schools. Young attorneys and law students are in heavy demand to volunteer as attorney advisers and judges.
For the past three years, I have been an attorney adviser to the Strawberry Mansion High School Mock Trial Team. Along with my co-adviser Joseph Cohn of the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, I meet with students and help them prepare a trial from beginning to end.
As the students work toward their goal, they develop as individuals. One student who was so shy he could barely make eye contact on the first day of practice blossomed into a talented defense attorney who knew the nuances of evidence better than many practicing attorneys. Another student had never considered a legal career path and was unsure whether she would attend college. After competing in mock trial, she not only attended college and majored in criminal justice — but she became the star of her college mock trial team.
My experience is proof that this type of hands-on volunteering really makes a difference in the lives of Philadelphia area students. If you are interested in participating in the Bradway Competition, I encourage you to contact Roberta West from Temple-LEAP at 215-204-8948. Even if you only have a limited amount of time to offer, the impact on the community and the participating students' lives can be ...
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