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Public Service ProgramsWYLD is proud to sponsor several initiatives which support the commitment of our membership to public service and broad access to the justice system: Aspiring Youth Program The Aspiring Youth Program was created to reach out to at-risk middle school students during the "latch key" hours. A committee of Spokane young lawyers implemented this after school program as a pilot program, combining education, sports and inspirational speakers. This program has been a great success and will continue to be expanded to schools in other areas in an effort to promote leadership and make a difference in our communities. Mentorship/Scholarship Program This program reaches out to the public high schools with the purpose of identifying at-risk youth and pairing them with young lawyer mentors during the summer. Students are exposed to the practice of law, judges, and courthouses. At the end of each intensive five week program, students write a final paper and outstanding students are awarded college scholarships. This program was developed in Pierce County and has been successful helping dozens of students see their true potential. Pre-Law Student Leadership Conference This program was designed for, and targeted towards at-risk youth and minority students. Students who attend are encouraged to pursue a legal career and to take active leadership roles in their communities and student governments. This program emphasizes the importance of staying in school and being an active member of society. At the conference in Yakima students participate in interactive workshops where they discuss case studies relating to criminal and family law issues. Students also discuss issues that currently impact youth, and work together to develop an action plan to they can implement on their own. During past conferences, program chairs have been successful in attracting top keynote speakers including Justice Charles Smith, WSBA President Ron Ward, King County Executive Ron Sims, and Representative Mary Skinner. Each conference has been well attended and last years' conference was no exception, with over one hundred students attending, and over thirty attorneys, judges and community leaders volunteering their time to act as mentors and role models. FEMA Disaster Legal Assistance Program The Pro Bono/Public Service Committee coordinates the FEMA disaster legal assistance panel. A permanent training program has been created, and an all volunteer panel of attorneys has been created to render legal advice to victims of any natural disaster that may befall citizens of our state. The committee has been active continuing to recruit volunteer attorneys to provide legal advice and/or representation to disaster victims and maintaining ties with and coordinating services with the ABA and FEMA. |