Posted: Nov 16, 2011

On November 7th, 2011, the Association of Corporate Counsel, Delaware Valley ("DELVACCA") Chapter sponsored a full-day legal program for over 85 Overbrook High School students that was hosted by PECO at its center city Philadelphia offices.   Volunteer attorneys from approximately 25 Delaware Valley companies taught the students about contracts, employment and copyright law through interactive workshops as part of the Street Law / ACC Corporate Legal Diversity Pipeline Program.   The workshops were a follow-up to lessons taught by DELVACCA members at Overbrook High School during October and November.  The classes included a mock negotiation of a sneaker endorsement contract for an athlete, the mock deposition of a terminated employee and a mock trial involving an artist who used the photograph of President Obama to create the "Hope" poster.

The full-day program included a career fair for the students.  Volunteers from DELVACCA, the law firm of Duane Morris and the law firm of Littler Mendelson and Exelon/PECO were on hand to talk with students about careers as paralegals, legal assistants, and attorneys who specialize in different areas of law.    Duane Morris generously sponsored the breakfast and lunch for the event.

"After successfully participating with the Street Law / ACC Corporate Legal Diversity Pipeline Program in 2010, DELVACCA is very pleased to once again work with Overbrook High School with this terrific program.  We believe that we made an impact on the students by providing them with good exposure to the legal profession.  The students are remarkable and each were engaged in the process; so many of them show incredible potential as future lawyers.  This was quite a humbling experience that the volunteers will never forget", said Alex Erlam, DELVACCA's Immediate Past President and Chair of the Street Law Program.

The day concluded with a closing ceremony that included each student receiving a gift bag of goodies donated by participating DELVACCA Companies and the law firms.

Overbrook High School is an inner-city, public high school that faces tremendous challenges and a poor graduation rate.    However, through its strong law program under the guidance of the teacher, Phil Beauchemin, the school has won three state mock trial championships, seven City championships and finished 11th in the nation in 2008.  The school's law program has approximately ninety students.

DELVACCA is a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel.  ACC is the world's largest organization serving the professional and business interests of attorneys who practice in the legal departments of corporations, associations and other private-sector organizations around the globe.   ACC promotes the common interests of its members, contributes to their continuing education, helps them succeed in their careers and provides a voice on issues of national and international importance.  With nearly 30,000 members employed by more than 10,000 organizations in 75 countries, ACC connects its members to each other, and to the people and resources necessary for their personal and professional growth.

For more information, go to http://delvacca.acc.com.  For more information about the Street Law/ACC Diversity Pipeline nationwide, please visit: www.streetlaw.org/ACC