The Bennington County Bar Association has a history of planning events with schools in their area to commemorate Law Day on May 1 and this year was no different. Organized largely by attorneys John Lamson and Cristina Mansfield, and Court Operations Manager Wendy Dickey, the County Bar helped bring legal professionals to speak with students of various ages in several area schools. “Our hope is to have Law Day activities in every school in the County one day,” says Mansfield.
This year, Judge Kerry McDonald-Cady met with fifth and sixth graders at Pownal Elementary School. Judge Howard Kalfus spent an hour with 55 eighth graders at Manchester Elementary School and Judge David Barra talked with students at Mount Anthony Union High School. Attorney John Lamson helped organize that event as he has in years past. Bennington area attorneys are planning other events with students as part of Law Day month. Judge Kalfus and Bennington State’s Attorney Erica Marthage will organize a mock trial at the courthouse on May 29 for Fisher Elementary (Arlington). Attorney Mike Munson has an event planned for Shaftsbury.
Law Day is an annual commemoration held on May 1st to celebrate the rule of law and cultivate a deeper understanding of the legal system. Students love to interact with judges and attorneys and ask the most surprising questions, e.g.: “Did you ever make a mistake?” or “Why do you wear a dress?”
Learn more about the history of Law Day and past themes at the ABA website, here. Or develop your own simple session outline focused on a simple governance issue. Make sure to include some kind of interactive exercise to get the students engaged.
Did you or your county bar association sponsor a Law Day event or engage in other community outreach recently? Send us some photos and give us the who, what, when, where and why and we will spread the word. Your event may inspire others to reach out in their own communities.
If you are planning an law-related event with Vermont school students and would like pocket constitutions or, “On Your Own” booklets (for high school students) contact the VBA at info@vtbar.org and we will get them out to you.
by Cristina Mansfield and Kim Velk
