East Bay Law Firm Hosts 16 High School Students

PRESS RELEASE

GJEL Summer Program Gives Local Students ‘Introduction to Careers in Law’

Gillin, Jacobson, Ellis, Larsen, and Lucey’s “Introduction to Careers in Law” program offered local high school students an opportunity to dig deeper into the realities of practicing law, and working for lawyers.

ORINDA, CA—July 24, 2015—Last week, Gillin, Jacobson, Ellis, Larsen, and Lucey (GJEL Accident Attorneys), hosted 16 high school students at its main office in Orinda, presenting its third annual Introduction to Careers in Law Program. The students, from 11 Bay Area high schools, came together to spend the week gaining a better understanding of how law firms operate, what lawyers do on a daily basis, and the various career opportunities available within the legal field.

Throughout the program, students witnessed lectures, participated in interactive segments and Q&A panels, and spent a day observing a trial of a civil case at the Alameda County Superior Court. Presentations included topics such as Civil Procedure 101, The Anatomy of a Civil Case, Criminal Law, and Careers in “Big Law” and Tech, so participants were exposed to a broad range of legal topics.

The breadth of speakers and topics is something GJELL partner Andy Gillin hoped would provide the program’s participants with a more accurate impression of what it’s actually like being an attorney. “Having grown up near Hollywood myself, I’ve long felt that movies and television, not reality, heavily influence many young people’s impressions of what lawyers do,” said Gillin. “By exposing high school students to lawyers and paralegals from a variety of fields and backgrounds, I hope we can dispel some of those common misconceptions.”

According to feedback from the students, this year’s program was a success. As one participant noted, “Beyond the typical straight-laced stereotype, I was able to witness the emotional investment and dedication a lawyer has. The visible love for the law that was shown really encouraged me.”

Another student ended the week with a new outlook on legal careers, saying, “I really enjoyed the fact that we were able to talk with so many different types of lawyers about their day-to-day work as well as their lifestyle. I always thought that lawyers just went to trial … but this has opened me up to a multitude of different options.”

Thanks to the overwhelmingly positive feedback from this year’s students (and those from prior years), the continued support of the guest speakers who donate their time and expertise to the program, and the generosity of the Alameda County Superior Court, GJELL plans to continue the “Introduction to Careers in Law” Program in 2016.

About GJEL Accident Attorneys

GJEL Accident Attorneys is a San Francisco Bay Area law firm representing plaintiffs in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Since 1972, the firm has obtained recoveries in more than 99 percent of its cases. More information is available at gjel.com.

Contact:

Jason Arango

(925) 253-5800

summerprogram@gjel.com