All rise, the Project Law Track mock trial is now in session!
On Saturday, May 14, the Project Law Track program in Chicago concluded with a mock trial at the Everett M. Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. The Hon. Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer presided. The mock trial centered around an alleged fight between two singers on a reality show.
“I loved Project Law Track, it was an amazing experience to be able to speak in front of a jury!” said Faiza Khan, a 14-year-old Girl Scout Senior, who plans to study criminal law. “At first, I wasn’t nervous. But when I came into the courtroom, I was nervous and wasn’t sure if I’d be able to say what I needed to say but my mentor calmed me down. I think the most important part of Project Law Track is having someone help you and show you the way.”
The mock trial is the culmination of Project Law Track, a series of four interactive sessions exploring the different facets of law. The series was co-founded by Monica Weed, executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Navigant Counseling in Chicago and second vice president for the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana Board of Directors, and takes place in Chicago and DuPage with the help of attorneys with the Chicago Bar Association’s Alliance for Women, DuPage Association of Women Lawyers and the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois. The DuPage mock trial was held on April 30.
Ashley Gray, assistant attorney general at the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, participated in Project Law Track as a mentor two years ago and was excited to return.
“I’m a former Girl Scout and my mom led my troop, so it’s always held a special place in my heart,” she said. “Project Law Track is an amazing opportunity to expose girls to law and give back to the community. Today was the culmination of a great experience. The girls did a great job.”
She also had a few words of wisdom for aspiring lawyers.
“Because law is a tough field, the most important thing is to be authentic and let that guide your career and your decisions,” Ashley said. “Stay true to yourself and you can’t go wrong. The best lawyers stay close to service. Law is a profession of service.”
To learn more about Project Law Track and other specially-designed series offered by Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, click here.