Letters Dear Editor. I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude to the Arkansas Bar Association for its continued efforts to make Mock Trial Competition available for the state's high school students. You truly are making a difference in lives and in the choices of careers! Nothing else that we can offer students at the high school level allows them to experience first hand the intensity of research required, the applied knowledge, the questioning skills, or the verbal and language skills so particular to a career in law. I know it is difficult to find lawyers and judges who are willing to forfeit their Saturdays to hear mock cases, and I know the state coordinator has a very difficult time organizing all the details - not to mention dealing with all kinds of questions and situations that arise in the process! I understand you are the supervisor of Jeri Rutledge, who serves as this year's state coordinator. My students and I thank you from the bottoms of our hearts for allowing her the latitude necessary to assume this responsibility on top of the requirements of her job. Neither of you may know it, but you have a hand in changing lives. Let me share and example: This year I have a student who has a history of falling into the wrong crowd, cutting classes, letting his grades slip, et cetera. However, he is perhaps one of the brightest young men I've seen, and his thought processes are unchallenged. From the first of the year, he has taken an intense interest in Mock
to
the
Trial as I presented in class - he even decided he wanted to become a lawyer. Because of his personal history, however, he vacillates, often selling himself short as he thinks it is an impossible dream. After state competition was over, and we discovered we were going to national competition, he became a changed young man. His focus these past few days is intense.... his mom tells me he lives, eats and breathes Mock Trial! Somehow, the experience gave him the confidence that he CAN become a lawyer and the assurance that he WILL do well at it. For him, Mock Trial was the experience that changed the direction of his life! How can that be measured in mere words of gratitude?
Editor We do so appreciate the work of Ms. Rutledge throughout all of this. We feel we have begun to know her as a friend as well as a mentor and we sincerely hope you can spare her for the national competition so she can travel with us! Again, thank you for the part you played in making this happen! I hope the Arkansas Bar Association knows how grateful we teachers and students are for the opportunity provided. We hope it continues for many years! Sincerely, Brenda Paten Giftedfl'alented Facilitator Rogers High School
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5 ARKANSAS LAWYER SPRING 1995