75 High School and Middle School Students in Mock Trial Event

On February 25, 2012 the Lewis & Clark Law School Academic Enhancement Program, partnering with the College of Arts and Sciences multicultural admissions program, hosted 75 middle school and high school students at the law school’s 13th annual diversity pipeline event.

After a day of fast-paced preparation and practice rounds, 75 high school and middle school students competed in five simultaneous mock trials on the important topic of cyberbullying.  At the law school’s 13th annual pipeline diversity event, ten teams competed after being taught and coached by 40 volunteer attorneys, law students, and students from the college of arts and sciences. Students and volunteers uniformly praised the program.  One 9th grader said “This was a great experience. Thank you for answering my questions about law school and the law!”

Students were chosen to participate in the program through TRiO, a federally funded program aimed at helping disadvantaged students attend college.  The program was funded in part by the Law School Admissions Council.  A number of Portland law firms and community organizations also helped out by donating items for the “swag bags” for the students.  The school received donated items from Bullivant Houser Bailey, Davis Wright Tremaine, the Oregon State Bar, Westlaw, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, TRiO, Mount Hood Community College, Portland Community College, and the Bonneville Power Administration.