JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
The 902nd Mission Support Group Office of the Staff Judge Advocate will bring a special Law Day presentation to Randolph High School government and economics students this month.
Students will view a mock trial staged by Judge Advocate General attorneys and have an opportunity to ask the lawyers questions following the presentation; some students will also take part in the mock trial.
"Law Day is a day when attorneys around the country promote the legal profession," Capt. Sarah Huerta, 902nd MSG/JA chief of legal assistance, said. "We want to reach out to the local community and give Randolph High School students a taste of what we do as JAG attorneys under the Uniform Code of Military Justice."
The mock trial, set for May 21, will revolve around an active-duty member accused of stealing a vehicle, Huerta said.
"We will make it fun for the students," she said. "We'll spruce up the script and select students to act as the jury panel and give them a chance to deliberate."
Huerta said the goals of the Law Day program are to teach students about the legal field and the Air Force JAG corps and to excite them about the legal profession.
"All students at that age have seen TV shows and movies about the legal profession, but this makes it true to form," she said. "It's a chance to share with the community what goes on behind the scenes."
Huerta, who passed the bar exam in 2011, said she looks forward to sharing knowledge of her profession with students.
"I love my job," she said. "It's a career field that has an impact on the community you serve."
Huerta, whose focus at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph is helping clients with legal assistance and civil law issues, said the JAG office covers a broad spectrum of legal work. It ranges from courts-martial and civilian misdemeanors to civil law and client services such as legal counsel, powers of attorney and will and tax preparation.
Law Day was officially established by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1958 to celebrate the nation's commitment to the rule of law. Three years later, Congress issued a joint resolution designating May 1 as the official date for celebrating Law Day.
Maj. Veronique Anderson, 902nd MSG/JA deputy staff judge advocate, said Law Day "provides an opportunity to educate citizens of all ages about the workings of our military court system and how our courts generally guard our rights.
"It is a time to celebrate the legal profession at Randolph and honor those who have made significant contributions to both the legal community and the JBSA community at-large," she said. "This event honors not only attorneys, but also those non-attorneys - paralegals - who have provided much-needed legal assistance to the military community."