In 2005 the Barristers Board of Directors for the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association designed the School Partnership Program to improve high school students' understanding of the law and increase their interest in a career in the law.  The program connects new and seasoned attorneys with high school students.  Attorneys participate in various programs to provide the students with valuable mentorship and contacts with successful professionals in the legal community.  This years' programs include:

Law Day:  Law Day is held in May every year across the country.  Attorneys participating in Law Day will visit a high school in May to participate in an interactive program designed to teach high school students about the law.  Last year, attorneys assisted students' with a mock oral argument before the United States Supreme Court to debate whether the National Security Agency needed a FISA warrant to search a high school student and his locker.  This year's program promises to be just as exciting.

Oral Argument Workshop:  In preparation for Law Day, attorneys participating in the Oral Argument Workshop will help the students prepare an oral argument.  This will require a visit to a local high school in March or April.

Internship Program (Mock Interviews):  One high school student will be selected to work as an intern at the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association office in the Summer 2007.  To prepare the students for interviews for the Internship position, attorneys will conduct mock interviews of the students.  This will require a visit to a local high school in March. 

Career Day:  Last year, high school students participated in a mock trial of Winona Rider.  With the assistance of Wayne State University Law Students, students played the roles of bailiff, prosecutor, defense counsel, judge and jury.  Attorneys participating in Career Day will be asked to field questions on their pursuit of a career in law and their area of practice over lunch in April.

Essay Contest:  11th and 12th grade students will participate in an essay writing contest to win various prizes.  This year's topic is: "Suppose a parent reports that a student was showing off a hunting rifle in the school parking lot. Should a principal have the right to conduct a search of a student's backpack?"  Attorneys participating in the Essay Contest will visit the students at a local high school once in February and once in March to help students write a clear, concise and persuasive argument. 

Attorneys  or Wayne County School Districts interested in participating in the School Partnership Program should contact Angela English, School Partnership Program Administrator, by email: aenglish@detroitlawyer.org or (313) 961-6120, ext. 201.

Wayne County Partnership Schools
Edwin C Denby, Since 2005 - 2008
Lewis Cass Technical High School, Since 2008
Crockett High School, Since 2009

Scholarship Recipients $1500

Denby High School
2005 - 2006        Karissa E. Thompson - Central Michigan University
2006 - 2007        Joycelyn Dier - Wayne State University
2007 - 2008        Ayana Tiamoyo Lett - Saginaw Valley State University

Partial Scholarship Recipient $500

Denby High School
2007 - 2008        Dan'a Hicks - Wayne State University
     
Summer Interns

Denby High School
2005 - 2006       Shantail Fuqua
2006 - 2007       Joycelyn Dier and Jasmen Bulock
2007 - 2008       Ayana Tiamoyo Lett

Cass Technical High School
2007 - 2008        Michelle Allen

Essay Contest Recipients

Denby High School 2005-2006                 Denby High School 2006-2007
Richard Diggs, 1st Prize (Laptop)                   Richard Diggs, 1st Prize (Laptop)
Raymond Diggs, 2nd Prize (IPOD)                  Raymond Diggs, 2nd Prize (MP3 Player)
Prochia Mulligan, 3rd Prize (Gift Certificate)    Crystal Hughes, 3rd Prize (Gift Certificate)

Denby High School 2007 - 2008
Dan'a Hicks, 1st Prize (Laptop)
Kyia Young, 2nd Prize (MP3 Player)
Roderick Frailey, 3rd Prizes (Gift Certificate)

Cass Technical High School 2007-2008
Nadira Ahmed, 1st Prize (Laptop)
Daishia Willis and Chloe Johnson, 2nd Prize (MP3 Player)
Courtney Hambrick, 3rd Prize (Gift Certificate)

In-kind Donations:

Books:
Lift Every Voice - A Celebration of Freedom
Donated by: Rotary Club of Detroit
Care of: Magistrate Renee McDuffee, 36th District Court
Donation Received: 2008

Awarded Grants:

ABA YLD 2008 Subgrant
Award Amount: $2,000
Award Received: July 2008 
Applied toward the 2007-2008 School Partnership Program Budget

* Primary funding received through the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation 501 (c) (3) organizations

Beginning the 2008-2009 school year individuals or corporate donations in support of this programs are welcome, please make check payable to:

Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation
School Partnership Program
645 Griswold, Suite 1356
Detroit, MI 48226