Posted by By Girl Scout Project Law Track Program Co-Chairs, CBA Alliance for Women: Brandi Burton, Erica Byrd, Jennifer Kobayashi, Meagan Newman, Monica Weed, and Brittany Weiss
It is that time of year again when the Chicago Bar Association’s Alliance for Women and the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana are gearing up for the 11th Annual Project Law Track Program, now to be presented in a virtual format! The program consists of a series of three dynamic interactive evening sessions designed to introduce Girl Scouts to the field of law that will culminate in a Saturday morning virtual mock trial over Zoom Videoconferencing. The three evening sessions will take place on Thursday: April 8, 15, and 22, and the Saturday mock trial will take place on April 24, 2021.
The program introduces girls to the many different opportunities that a legal career can offer, demystifying the portrayal of lawyers as seen on television and in the movies, and providing girls with the experience of stepping into the shoes of a trial attorney to prepare a case for a mock trial and try it before a real judge in a virtual courtroom! To participate in Project Law Track, girls 6th grade and older are required to complete an application, for which up to forty girls are chosen on a first come, first served basis.
In order to fulfill the goals of the program, Project Law Track is looking for female attorneys who would be interested in serving as mentors for the four-session program. We would like to partner each girl participant with a female attorney who will work with her throughout the program, with particular emphasis on helping her prepare for her role in the mock trial, which is the capstone of the program. Each female attorney volunteer would attend these virtual sessions of Project Law Track, to assist in preparing and supporting her mentee at the virtual mock trial.
Attorneys who volunteer have an opportunity to meet and work with other talented attorneys from diverse backgrounds and interests connected by the shared desire to give of their time, advice, knowledge, and insights to girls who may be planning a career as an attorney or who are just curious about the field of law. In turn, the girls will broaden their understanding of what it means to be an attorney, experience the possibilities that are available to them by working virtually with female role models, interact with their peers and attorneys in preparing for a mock trial, and learn that there are women who care and want to help them explore their future career options.
The dates and times for the sessions of the 2021 Girl Scouts Project Law Track Program – Virtual Series are:
- Session 1: Law (As Seen on TV): Thursday, April 8, 2021 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Session 2: Law School/Career Day: Thursday, April 15, 2021 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Session 3: Prepare Your Case! Thursday, April 22, 2021 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Session 4: Try Your Case! Saturday, April 24, 2021 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Erica Byrd, Garfield & Merel, at 312/288-0104 or via email at byrd@garfield-merel.com. We promise it will be a rewarding experience! Thank you in advance for your consideration.