By Girl Scout Project Law Track Program Co-Chairs, CBA Alliance for Women: Jillian Burstein, Brandi Burton, Erica Byrd, Jennifer Kobayashi, Meagan Newman, Paula Pitrak, 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 12th Annual Project Law Track Program! 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 mock trial. The three evening sessions will take place on: Tuesday, April 19, 2022; Thursday, April 21, 2022; and Thursday, April 28, 2022, and the Saturday mock trial will take place on April 30, 2022. The program will take place in a hybrid format this year, with the first two sessions taking place virtually, and the last two sessions taking place in-person (dependent upon applicable Covid-19 recommendations and precautions, Sessions 3 and 4 may also switch to a virtual format).
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. 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 sessions of Project Law Track, to assist in preparing and supporting her mentee at the 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 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 2022 Girl Scouts Project Law Track Program – Hybrid Series are:
Session 1: Law (As Seen on TV) (Virtual): Tuesday, April 19, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Session 2: Law School/Career Day (Virtual): Thursday, April 21, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Session 3: Prepare Your Case! (In-Person) Thursday, April 28, 2022 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Session 4: Try Your Case! (In-Person) Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Erica Byrd, Valentine, Austriaco & Bueschel, P.C, at 312-288-8285 or via email at EByrd@VABLawFirm.com. We promise it will be a rewarding experience! Thank you in advance for your consideration.