Minneapolis (3-23-03): -- Educating and inspiring teens about the law was the goal of the seventh annual Legal Expo, which was held Wednesday, March 19 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center. This free event, sponsored annually by the Hennepin County and Ramsey County bar associations, features volunteer attorneys, judges, law enforcement officers, and other professionals leading educational sessions designed for high school students.

700 students and teachers attended the Legal Expo from eighteen area schools––traditional and non-traditional, public and private. Most students came from the metro area, but others from as far away as Le Center and Kimball, Minnesota. Teachers throughout the area have responded enthusiastically to the Legal Expo because of its ability to make the legal system "come to life" for their high school classes.

Officers from the New Hope Police Department K-9 Unit opened the day’s program, introducing students to the role of police dogs in law enforcement. Then, each hour throughout the morning, students chose from three concurrent seminars. Students actively participated in discussions on: Teen Crime and Consequences; The Death Penalty; Parties and Alcohol: What the Law Says; Credit & Consumer Fraud; Legal Careers; Internet Law; and School Rules: What Are Your Rights. Judge Wilhelmina Wright of the Minnesota Court of Appeals and Justice Paul Anderson of the Minnesota Supreme Court led a special presentation discussing current issues facing the courts.

The Hennepin County Bar Association provides a wide range of resources for the community and for youth, including an active speakers bureau; Legal Stuff, a 64 page booklet for teens; TEL-LAW, a free phone-bank of legal messages; Lawyer Referral and Information Services; and other public education programming.

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Photos are available on request. 
Contact Duane Stanley, 612-752-6611 or duane@hcba.org