Lawyers Club Blog (ARCHIVE)

I have a request. No, I have a demand: Stop using the phrase “you guys” . . .  

Good news for busy lawyers this year: You only need to purchase the top half of a Halloween costume for this year’s Fall Read-In! Every October, the Lawyers Club of San Diego’s Community Services Committee (CSC) teams up with Central Elementary School to hold a fun event where members of the legal community get to dress up in costume, meet local kids, promote literacy by sharing a favorite book, and leave behind much-needed supplies. Due to the pandemic, this year’s Fall Read-In will be held virtually, with lawyers able to throw a cape and witch’s hat on top of their pajama pants and read their selection to the students via Zoom.

Labor Day. Summer Vacations Winding Down. First Day of School. New Outfit. Freshly Sharpened Pencils. Parents-Sad, Happy, & Off to Work. These common September experiences are suspended this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents will reinvent these experiences to capture the pandemic version. What will not be seen in the photos or videos is the worry, the tears, and the struggle of parents as they determine how to ensure their child receives a quality education. The quality of which will depend on if the child attends school in-person, attends virtually at home or a combination.

Education has become reliant on technology and this can be expensive, especially for economically disadvantaged schools such as Central Elementary in City Heights. The twice-yearly Lawyers Club of San Diego’s Read-In is a powerful way for Lawyers Club members to share their career journey and act as role models. Read-In volunteers strive to inspire students and to instill the belief that with focus and determination, they can succeed in achieving a professional career of their choice.
 

Human trafficking, which includes sexual exploitation and forced labor, is a significant problem in San Diego. According to data from the FBI, San Diego is one of the 13 worst regions in the United States for sex trafficking, an underground industry worth $810 million in San Diego County.

On October 31, 2018, the San Diego Lawyers Club’s Community Outreach Committee (COC) and San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association (SDLRLA) conducted the Halloween Read-In at Central Elementary, a pre-kindergarten through 5th grade school located in the heart of City Heights. San Diego Lawyers Club has a twenty-three-year Read-In partnership with Central Elementary, where students are among the most economically challenged in the district. This year’s Halloween Read-In event featured numerous memorable costumes and volunteers included many San Diego Lawyers Club members, SDLRLA members, judges, law students, and San Diego City Attorney, Mara Elliott. Both the Halloween and Spring Read-Ins are influential events, where volunteers serve as role models, and provide an opportunity for students to learn about different careers while inspiring them to dream big.