8th graders will meet lawyers, discuss legal issues
— By Darren Schenck
They’re energetic, curious and hopeful — qualities that will serve them well should they choose to pursue careers in law.
They’re also in the eighth grade at Foshay Learning Center, a K-12 school just a few blocks west of USC. And on Friday, Nov. 9, dozens of these students will come to campus for “Mentor Day,” an event that will help them decide someday if it will be a lawyer’s life for them.
Jointly sponsored by USC Law’s Street Law program and the Southern California Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACCA-SoCal), a professional organization consisting of over 1,400 in-house lawyers in Southern California, Mentor Day assembles practicing in-house lawyers and current law students to discuss legal issues in a practical manner for students. The day’s sessions also expose local students to the field of law by introducing them to current and future lawyers.
Throughout this semester, ACCA-SoCal attorney volunteers and law students from USC Street Law have paid a number of visits to Foshay, teaching the eighth graders about contracts, entertainment law, sports law and school law. At Mentor Day, the Foshay students will put their new knowledge to work during a variety of interactive workshops. These students will also hear law school students and attorneys describe what it means to be a lawyer and how to become one. Other items on the agenda include a mock lecture by Prof. Jody Armour and a pizza party for all participants.
“We’ll be able to get all the participants in this program together in one room and celebrate everything that we’ve accomplished these past few months,” said 2L Irene S. Lee, executive director of Street Law. “I hope to convince at least a few of the eighth graders that if they stay in school and go to college, perhaps they will soon be able to return to USC Law, not as visitors but as future lawyers.”
USC Law alumnus Ajay Patel ’94, vice president of business and legal affairs for Sony Connect Inc. and pro bono committee chair for ACCA-SoCal, said that his organization is committed to providing community involvement opportunities to its members who are in-house lawyers.
“Putting together a street law-type program and partnering with USC Law seemed like a great fit, allowing our members to mentor both law school students and the Foshay students,” he said. “I feel that as attorneys, we all have an obligation to keep the profession held in high regard, and that involves educating and mentoring not only law school students, but even younger students.”
Ultimately, Mentor Day and the Street Law program aim to make young people aware of the opportunities available to them.
“I truly believe in the empowerment of youth, both at the law-student level and at the eighth-grader level,” said Lee. “It has been wonderful to see my fellow law students stepping up into leadership positions and organizing their peers to help give back to the community.”
Mentor Day sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. For more information on the event, contact Irene S. Lee.
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