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4th Annual Rule of Law Competition
(2012-2013)
The Beverly Hills Bar Foundation, with a history of
over 50 years of scholarship support for law students in Southern
California, announces its 4th Annual Rule of Law Writing Competition
to promote appreciation and understanding of the rule of law.
Read the winning entry of the 4th
Annual Rule of Law Writing Competition "Presidential
Non-Enforcement of the Rule of Law".
Historically, the Beverly Hills Bar Foundation and
Association have been closely tied to Rule of Law issues. This
competition encourages law students to integrate Rule of Law concepts
into their writings. The competition does not seek any particular point
of view on the Rule of Law. Papers may be on any topic either directly
discussing an aspect of the Rule of Law, demonstrating how the Rule of
Law affected the topic, defining the Rule of Law, criticizing the Rule
of Law, or demonstrating the economic social or political effects of the
Rule of Law.
Prizes for the Rule of Law Competition will be awarded
at the 59th Annual Beverly Hills Bar Association Supreme Court Luncheon
on Tuesday, June 4, 2013. Grand Prize is $2,500.00, with two Honorable
Award prizes of $500.00 each.
The Rule of Law Writing Competition was initiated by
former BHBF and BHBA President, Kenneth G. Petrulis; his firm, Goodson
Wachtel and Petrulis, APC, is the donor of these awards.
Entries are due no later than April 1, 2013. Rules,
topics and materials are available at
www.bhba.org/foundation/Rule-of-Law.htm
Scholarships Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than one million dollars in scholarships to deserving law students attending UCLA, USC, Loyola, Pepperdine, and Southwestern law schools.
Today prominent lawyers, judges, legislators, and community leaders stand among the ranks of scholarship recipients.
The Foundation is expanding its law school scholarship program
to outstanding students from other area law schools. Recently,
the Foundation initiated an innovative program of "bridge loans"
for graduating law students to assist them with living expenses
while preparing for the California Bar Exam.
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Kevin Murray
California State Senator
"I am tremendously grateful to the Beverly Hills Bar Foundation
for the scholarship and opportunity that were given to me while
I was a student at Loyola Law School. The Foundation has
contributed greatly to my career and I wish them continued
success." |
Legal
Literacy & Preventive Law
The Foundation seeks to promote public understanding and
confidence in the rule of law, the role of lawyers, and the
judiciary, with a primary focus upon legal literacy and
preventive law. Through grants to law-related education programs
the Foundation helps to educate the public about legal rights
and responsibilities. These nationally recognized programs have
become models for bar associations and bar foundations across
the nation.
The Blue Car Project-Youth Education
 Established in 1990 based upon the concept of the late Louis M.
Brown, nationally recognized as the father of preventive law,
the Blue Car Project stimulates high school students to think
about the impact of law in their lives. With funding from the
Foundation, lawyer volunteers from the Beverly Hills Bar
Association have used the purchase, ownership, and operation of
an old blue Chevy as the central theme to teach fundamental
legal principles to thousands of students in area schools.
Citizens Law
School-Adult Education
Another preventive law project established in 1990, the Citizens
Law School provides adults of all ages with practical
information and materials concerning their legal rights and
options on such topics as family law, landlord and tenant law,
and estate planning. Funded by the Foundation and presented
annually by lawyer volunteers from the Beverly Hills Bar
Association, the Citizens Law School is free to the general
public.
Community Service
In addition to promoting public education, the Foundation also
funds pro bono community service projects benefiting youth,
families, and seniors.
Roxbury Park Seniors Legal Clinic
West Los Angeles is home to more than 350,000 seniors, nearly
10% of the area's population. Recognizing the special legal
issues facing seniors, the Foundation funds the monthly Roxbury
Park Pro Bono Seniors Legal Clinic. Conceived in 1993 and
staffed by volunteers from the Barristers division of the
Beverly Hills Bar Association, this program provides seniors
with helpful materials and information, as well as an
opportunity to receive free one-on-one legal advice.
Thriving in Splitsville Project
Created in 2001, the Thriving in Splitsville Project is a free,
day-long education and community service program open to the
public. In both seminar and workshop settings, participants
learn about the legal and mental health issues that commonly
arise in divorce, as well as the impact of divorce upon
children. This innovative program-an instant success-recently
attracted more than 200 members of the Los Angeles community.
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Stewart Kwoh, Executive Director
Asian Pacific American Legal
Center
"I very much appreciate the support and encouragement I received from the Beverly Hills Bar Foundation. The Foundation's expression of confidence in me helped give me the courage and confidence to establish the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, which is today the largest
provider of legal services to low income Asian Pacific Americans in the United States." |
Grantmaking The Foundation has funded programs for and made grants to
organizations that support and facilitate the Foundation's
mission. Recipients include:
Law Student
Scholarship Grants
UCLA
School of Law
USC School of Law
Loyola Law School
Pepperdine University School of Law
Southwestern University School of Law
Legal Literacy & Preventive Law Grants
Blue Car Project presented at
Beverly Hills High School
Culver City High School
Palisades Charter High School
Santa Monica High School
University High School
Citizens Law School
Culver City Middle School Peer Mediation Project
Community Service Grants
Barristers' Roxbury Park Seniors
Pro Bono Legal Clinic
Thriving in Splitsville Project
Public Counsel
Mental Health Advocacy Services
Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law
The Los Angeles Superior Court's Family Law Division-Pro Se Assistance
Program
INFO LINE of Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Superior Court Family Law
Information Center
Supporters The Foundation's tradition of excellence in law-related
education and community service is supported by annual dues
contributions from Beverly Hills Bar Association members, as
well as additional gifts from Association members, law firms,
colleagues, friends, and supporters. The Foundation receives
further funding from proceeds of popular annual events of the
Beverly Hills Bar Association, including the Installation &
Awards Dinner, the Supreme Court Luncheon, the Barristers'
Vintage Bouquet Charity Wine, Art & Travel Auction, and the
BHBA/USC Entertainment Law Institute.
The FELLOWS of the
Foundation The Foundation also receives generous financial support from the
Foundation FELLOWS, who have committed to make significant
annual contributions to further the Foundation's mission.
Conceived by Louis Fox, former Executive Director of the Beverly
Hills Bar Association, and initiated in 1997, the FELLOWS
program plays an essential role in the Foundation's efforts to
encourage philanthropy in the legal profession and to maintain
its tradition of excellence in law-related education and
community service.
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Antonia Hernandez, President and CEO
California Community Foundation, Los Angeles, California Center
"The scholarship from the Beverly Hills Bar Foundation not only
helped me personally,
but it also helped me access a whole new
group of legal scholars, lawyers and judges
within the legal
profession." |
Shop at Ralphs and Support the Bar Foundation,
click
here for more info.
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE
Make a Difference
The Foundation's award-winning support of youth, families, and seniors
depends upon the generous contributions of people throughout the legal
profession and the larger philanthropic community. Friends of the
Foundation who are interested in supporting its mission can do so by:
- Becoming a Foundation FELLOW-annual contribution levels range from $100 to
$10,000
- Serving as a volunteer leader on the Foundation's governing board or its
fundraising committee
- Recommending the Foundation to prospective donors for present, future, or
testamentary gifts
- Assisting the Foundation in securing grants from community foundations,
private family foundations, or other
charitable organizations
- Volunteering to host or co-sponsor a special event
- Underwriting the cost of Foundation programs, projects, or materials
- Making a "Tribute Gift" to recognize an esteemed lawyer, colleague, or
family member
- Endowing a scholarship
- Making a voluntary dues contribution to the Foundation along with the annual Beverly Hills Bar Association dues
- Attending and/or contributing to annual Beverly Hills Bar Association events that benefit the Foundation's mission
Make an Online Donation to the Beverly Hills Bar Foundation
To contact the Foundation or send contributions:
Beverly Hills Bar Foundation
9420 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(310) 601-2450
The Beverly Hills Bar Foundation is a non-profit, tax exempt organization
under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). Contributions to the
Foundation are tax deductible for federal income tax and estate tax
purposes to the maximum extent permitted by law.
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