Washington Young Lawyers Division to Judge Mock Trial Championship

Seattle, Washington, March 22, 2001 — More than 200 high school students from across the state will gather at the Thurston County Courthouse this weekend to compete in the YMCA Youth and Government Mock Trial Championship. The Young Lawyers Division (WYLD) of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) is proud to be a sponsor of the event. The WYLD supports the competition financially, and board members serve as coaches and judges for student teams. WYLD President-elect Sherri L. Jefferson will judge the final round of competition on Sunday, March 25 at 2:00 p.m.

Last year, Seattle's Franklin High School team won both the state championship and the national championship. WYLD President Thomas P. Quinlan judged the final state competition last year, and was impressed by the litigation skills demonstrated by students. "I observed an 18-year-old student do the most effective cross examination I've seen in 10 years of practice as a lawyer, pro tem judge, and arbitrator. I was very impressed," Quinlan said.

The Washington State Bar Association is a private, nonprofit organization authorized by the Washington Supreme Court to license the state's 26,500 lawyers. The WSBA both regulates lawyers under the authority of the Court and serves its members as a professional association — all without public funding. As a regulatory agency, it administers the bar exam, provides record-keeping and licensing functions, and administers the lawyer discipline program. As a professional association, the WSBA provides continuing legal education for attorneys, in addition to numerous other educational and member service activities.