Helping Younger Lawyers

I was honored this week to assist with an important ABA project. Helping to kick off a program to mentor students in this ABA Mock Trial program (described a bit more fully in this note below from the organizer) was indeed an honor. It always feels good to give back, but it also means I am getting older. Being asked to mentor, or to give "words of wisdom" is truly an honor, but it also means, to some degree, that someone thinks I am old enough to be wise. The truth is, no one has all the answers and no advice is perfect. But hard work, honest effort, doing it with a passion, and being kind to others are not just "nice ideas". They are important and worth pursuing (at least, as the young folks say "imho").

I thank the ABA YLD for involving me and I thank my friend Wing-Sze Sun, a true rising star for allowing me to help, and for all she does for younger lawyers and for these future lawyers.

Here is what was written about the program:

American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Litigation Committee’s Community Service Project – High School Mock Trial Competition

Wing-Sze W. Sun, Attorney at Law, Minneapolis, MN

The American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Litigation Committee, has determined high school mock trial competition, its Community Service Project for the 2014-2015 year. For this legal competition, it has paired with Benilde-St. Margaret High School, located in the greater twin cities area of Minnesota. Although formal competitions have not begun, Benilde’s Varsity team has entered into several scrimmages against other high schools that have placed at the State level and won every round of competition.

It is the Litigation Committee’s interest, not only to teach law and trial strategy to our youth, but also to personally develop and train our future leaders. Our project falls in alignment with the ABA YLD, Project Street Youth, as this year’s mock trial case primarily addresses several issues behind the effects of homelessness and poverty.

With this in mind, on December 16, 2014, the Litigation Committee established with Benilde its first tradition with the Committee’s Co-Chair Wing-Sze W. Sun. Benilde also has Committee’s executive board members, Co-Chair Brandon Schwartz, Vice Chair Stephen Kulp, and Vice Chair Anthony Palermo, as its assistant attorney advisers. This tradition was shared and recorded by Donika Pentcheva, ABA YLD District Representative for the Seventeenth District.

The trial competition’s first tradition began with guest speaker, Randy Kessler, attorney to the stars, at Kessler & Solomiany. Mr. Kessler advised the high school students to pursue their passions, work hard, and build a network of people who will support and guide them. Mr. Kessler was offered a star, the northern star, in gratitude for his selfless dedication to developing those around him.

Then, we continued our celebration by giving students items of symbolic significance. The Varsity Captains, Sarah Karels and Parker Breza, were given globes and reminded that the world was better because they are in it. The captains were told to conquer the world and make it their personal mission to continue to make the world better. The captains responded with a heartfelt promise.

The high school seniors were each given a Turtle Dove while Ms. Sun held its matching pair. Turtle Doves represent eternal love, hope, and peace designed to positively build and encourage one another. The Committee recognizes that our youth is vulnerable and without positive and constructive development, our youth can easily succumb to internal struggles, leaving them lusterless and able to reach their full potential.

The celebration continued with other members receiving swans and peacocks with messages of internal beauty, development, and protection. The last gift was handed to the teacher at Benilde. She was given a key, a symbol of her hard work and tireless effort as being our key to success.

The Litigation Committee proudly stands behind our Youth at Benilde-St. Margaret.