YOUNG LAWYERS' UPDATE
YLS Programs UndelWay of this competition will go to Washington, D.C., in the late spring to represent Arkansas in the national mock trial competition. During the month of November, the YLS Executive Council began a recruitment campaign to enlist attorneys to participate as coaches, judges and scorekeepers in the mock trial competition. Those of you who have participated in this program in the past have indicated you enjoyed the experience and we hope that you will agree to continue your involvement with the mock
By j. Thomas Ray On October 15 to 17, 1986, the Young Lawyers' Section sponsored the annual Practice Skills Seminar for recent admittees to the Bar of Arkansas. This year's seminar marks the 26th consecutive year that the YLS has sponsored this program. As many of you know from having attended the seminar in previous years, the program is
designed to assist new lawyers and recent law school graduates in bridging the gap between law school and law practice. Greg jones and Rosalind McClanahan chaired this year's seminar and did an outstanding job of organizing the program and lining up speakers. judging from the comments made by the more than 50 attorneys who attended, the program was a great success. Next year is the bicentennial of the signing of the United States Constitution, an event of great importance to all citizens and of special significance to lawyers. Because many citizens take for
granted the rights and liberties which are guaranteed by the Constitution, next year's Bicentennial Celebration provides a unique opportunity for the legal profession to educate the public on the importance of the rights which flow from that great document. john P. Gill is chair of the Arkansas Bar Association's Bicentennial Committee charged with the responsibility of developing and coordinating programs to celebrate this historic event. One of the goals that john and his committee hope to achieve is to formulate and implement programs that cause the average citizen to recog-
trial competition.
Finally, Mike Crawford, chair of the YLS Law Week Committee, is working on ways to stimulate more
nize and appreciate the benefits thClt he enjoys from living in a democracy in which certain inalienable rights are recognized and protected by the Constitution. One such program that john has decided to implement is a speaker's bureau composed of lawyers who are willing to speak to business and civic clubs and organizations on the importance of
the Constitution to our way of life. john has asked the YLS to assist him in developing a list of attorneys from throughout the state who are willing to participate in the speaker's bureau. Please contact me if you are interested in becoming involved in this worthwhile project. Marcia Barnes. chair of the YLS Mock Trial Committee, currently is signing up high schools to participate in this year's statewide mock trial competition. The state winner
statewide interest among lawyers and local bar associations in no路 tional Law Week activities. For many years, certain local bar associations in the state have been very active in planning and carrying out programs during Law Week that reflect favorably on the legal profession and help to restore our profession's sometimes
tarnished public image. In view of the negative publicity that the legal profession has received in recent months, it is extremely important that we use this year's Law Week activities to bring to the public's attention the many significant but often overlooked public and civic contributions which are made by members of our profession.
I urge each of you to see that your local bar association takes part in this year's Law Week activities. The YLS has access to a wide range of how-to materials which contain ideas and instructions on implementing meaningful programs. 0 January 1987/Arkansas Lawyer/31