Initiatives
Unsung Heroes
Unsung Heroes is an annual celebration of Santa Clara County Bar Association's and Bar Foundation's dedicated volunteers.
The Unsung Hero of the Year may go to an organization or to an individual who has, without fanfare, blazed a path in advancing, effecting or promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and access to the administration of justice within the Santa Clara County legal profession.
Each major substantive law section or committee (sections having 50 members or more) of the Bar Association is invited to name their own Volunteer of the Year, each of whom is honored at the annual Unsung Heroes Reception.
Unsung Hero - B J Fadem of Fadem Law
Barrister Volunteer of the Year - Jaya K. Reddy of Johnstone Kinney & Zucalica
Family Law Volunteer of the Year - Neha Marathe of Law Foundation of Silicon Valley and Jessica Huey of Huey & Gamble
Labor & Employment Volunteer of the Year - Rob Nuddleman of Nuddleman Law Firm
Real Property & Business Law Volunteer of the Year - Larry Jensen of Lawrence R. Jensen & Associates
Women Lawyers Volunteer of the Year - Linda MacLeod, Esq. (Ret.)
Bay Area Minority Student Clerkship Program (BAMSCP)
Bay Area Minority Student Clerkship Program began in 1990 as a partnership between SCCBA and Santa Clara University School of Law to increase opportunity and access to legal experience for minority law students. Placing first year law students with paid summer externships, this program is not a recruiting program. Employers and students have no expectation of further offers of employment.
The program's most important objective is to increase the number of minority attorneys in the hiring pipeline, giving them a better opportunity in subsequent years to be competitive for second year clerkships and post law school employment. The SCCBA has provided ongoing administrative support for BAMSCP for over 20 years.
BAMSCP selects students for its program through an application process, which is based on writing skills and an interview. The interview is administered by a committee made up of Silicon Valley practicing private and public attorneys, as well as judges who select the best and brightest students. BAMSCP then matches students with employers based on their practice area interest. Participating employers then screen students to ensure a good fit. Placements are based on the mutual preferences of both employers and students. BAMSCP is always seeking employers in law firms of all sizes, nonprofit organizations and governemtnal agencies. We also look value the many hours put in by our volunteer resume reviewers and interviewers. If you would like more information about BAMSCP, please contact the program co-chairs Jennifer Leung and Cara Mae Acibo at bamscpcochairs@gmail.com.
Law Related Education - Mock Trial
Mock Trial: This initiative coordinates activities and programs designed to educate the public about the law and the justice system. Its primary responsibility is the award-winning Santa Clara County Annual High School Mock Trial Competition. In partnership with the Santa Clara County Office on Education and the Santa Clara County Superior Court, attorneys, judges and high school teachers coach, score and evaluate these exceptional students as they try a real California case, before a sitting judge.
Teams of nine to twenty five students study a hypothetical case that is provided by the Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF). Teams conduct legal research and receive individual coaching by their school coach and a volunteer attorney in trial preparation, courtroom protocol, courtroom procedure, analysis and communication. The Committee is always looking to expand its roster of scorers and attorney coaches. To volunteer contact Sherry Diamond at sherryd@sccba.com
Preparation begins in the fall and culminates for the County competition in January. The winning team represents Santa Clara County at the state competition.
Constitution in the Classroom: Congress requires schools to celebrate the Constitution by holding an educational program on September 17 each year. We partner with our Bay Area organizers to provide training to local attorneys in presenting the curriculum to K-12 schools throughout Santa Clara County. Here are a few good places to locate material your district or school needs for Constitution Day:
Visit https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/programs/constitution_day/ for lesson plans, interactive features and games, conversation starters and information on landmark Supreme Court cases.
To get involved in The Foundation's Law Related Education programs, please contact Sherry Diamond at sherryd@sccba.com