The Los Angeles youth program, Team Prime Time, presented Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP with an award on Tuesday for its volunteer work with middle school students. Four attorneys with the firm provided valuable insight, leadership and guidance to youngsters who are learning about the civil justice system.
For the past eight years, Team Prime Time has offered a 10-week after school course to 6th, 7th and 8th grade students at Palms and Emerson Middle Schools to give the kids a better understanding of civil law and the process of a jury trial. The students prepared for a mock trial with the help of a law student from Loyola Law School. The law student wrote a fictional case and helped the students prepare to take the case to trial.
Local attorneys offered guidance on the order of witnesses, direct and cross examination, closing arguments and the evidence code. The program concluded yesterday in the “Final Trial” which was held in a Loyola law school courtroom and presided over by the Honorable Suzanne H. Segal, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Central District of California. Palms won this year’s mock trial, obtaining its fourth victory. Each school has won three times before.
“The goal is to help teach the next generation about the importance of our judicial system and the role it plays as an equalizer in our society,” said GBW attorney Christian Nickerson. Attorneys Tim Wheeler, Geoff Wells and Molly McKibben also volunteered their time. “When I see their excitement, it reinforces why I love the law,” said McKibben who has participated in the program for the past three years. “It’s really fun to see the kids’ curiosity and enthusiasm for learning about things we as practicing lawyers often take for granted,” added
McKibben.
Attorneys from about a dozen local law firms donate their time to work with the students. GBW contributed more pro bono hours than any other firm, and was recognized with an award. “It’s a great honor for our firm to receive this recognition. It really reflects how we feel about our community and wanting to give back,” said Nickerson.