More than 60 years ago, the American Bar Association and President Dwight D. Eisenhower teamed up to establish May 1 as Law Day to celebrate the rule of law and explore how law and the legal process impact our daily lives. It’s still celebrated today, often through pipeline activities to introduce legal careers to students who may not otherwise consider a career in law. 

This year, Kutak Rock’s offices in Atlanta, Denver, Kansas City, Little Rock, Omaha, Richmond, Scottsdale, Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. conducted Law Day celebrations by visiting schools in their communities or welcoming students into the office. Here are some of their activities: 

Denver: On May 3, Ashley Dennis, partner; Steve Zartman, legal IT specialist II; Susan Panko, human resources supervisor; and Catherine Winfield, recruiting and onboarding coordinator, brought pizza, sodas and Kutak Rock swag to Arrupe Jesuit High School in Denver and met with nine students who had an interest in law. During the one-hour lunch and learn, they explained their positions at the firm. Ms. Dennis told the students about Kutak Rock, our practices and what she does as a partner in Public Finance. She also talked about going to law school and starting with the firm as a summer associate. The students came ready with questions and were quite engaged. 

Omaha: Attorneys and staff members were invited by Dr. William Austin to speak to students in the Teacher Education Department at the University of Nebraska Omaha on April 26 and 27. Jill Goldstein, partner; Winnie Hawkins, partner; Ron Sylvester, partner; Tomi Ajibodu, associate; and Miriam Blair, Inclusiveness and Diversity manager, participated. Ms. Blair also spoke to Gateway Elementary students in Chanese Brathwaite’s fifth-grade class. 

Richmond: Paralegal Charisse Matthews and information security assessor Nicky Conyers—who have been conducting Law Day programs in Kutak Rock’s Richmond office for more than a decade—attended the first An Achievable Dream Middle School and High School College and Career Fair on April 13. They spoke with sixth- and seventh-graders about their positions as well as other jobs in a law firm. Another Law Day program is scheduled in the firm’s Richmond office later this summer. 

Scottsdale: Eight members of the firm’s Scottsdale office visited Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe on May 1, including Vanessa Alvarez, partner; Tasha Cycholl, partner; Randy Delgado, partner; Erin Dunne, paralegal; Lilly Harris, law clerk; Sue Poland, administrative manager; Lori Rush, partner; and Rebekah Strub, legal secretary. They spent an hour with the Advanced Criminal Justice class and Marketing II class.

Washington, D.C.: On May 18, Kutak Rock’s Washington, D.C regional office partnered with E.L. Haynes Public Charter School to host students who enjoyed breakfast, an office and building tour and presentations by staff, lawyers, and even a few clients about the broad variety of careers in the legal industry. A mock trial followed in which the students acted as jurors. After lunch, the students discussed career interests and assembled vision boards depicting their career goals. Endia Myers, Khadijah Mustafa, Arsema Tsehaye, Nicky Conyers, Rita Garrett, Charisse Matthews, Ellen Rosenstiel,  Hilary Jackler, Debbie Ruskin, David Lu, Nicole Moriarty, Mika Sharpe, Neo Tran, Peter Barrett, Sisera Daniel and Craig Young all helped make the day a memorable one for the students.