Nossaman Launches "Capitol and Court" Program - Local Students to Gain Unique View of Law and Public Policy

SACRAMENTO (October 11, 2013) – Nossaman LLP, in partnership with the Sacramento Sheriff's Activities League, announced it will host the first "Nossaman Capitol and Court" program on October 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The program will benefit 62 students from the Edward Harris Jr. Middle School in Elk Grove by exposing them to career opportunities in the law and public policy fields.

Nossaman is a national law firm with attorneys and legislative policy advisors in its Sacramento office on the 25th Floor of 621 Capitol Mall. 

Prominent in Sacramento's legal and lobbying communities since 1986, Nossaman is opening their top floor office to two groups of students, helping them "see" Sacramento from a new perspective.

"Capitol and Court allows us to show students a view of the law from legislation to litigation -- literally from the top down -- with a day that hopefully educates and inspires them," said Richard Harris, a Nossaman policy advisor and former President of the Davis Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees. 

From one of the highest vantage points in the city, students will get a bird's eye view of the proposed site of the new Sacramento Kings arena across L Street from the Nossaman office, and will get a look behind the scenes of the State Capitol and the Sacramento County Courthouse. 

Participating in the day will be Harris Middle School students who already benefit from an ongoing relationship with the Sacramento Sheriff's Activities League (SAL), a program that relies on athletic and academic activities to develop a bond between law enforcement officers and the youth in the community.

SAL was created by former gang detective Sergeant Cary Trzcinski to help students interact with law enforcement officers in a positive way on the field and in the classroom.  SAL runs a weekly Leadership Academy program at the middle school.  Students enrolled in the academy aspire to major in criminal justice/law or related fields to achieve their respective career goals.

Nossaman Capitol and Court was designed to serve students in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program, but was expanded to include the SAL students in this trip and program.  The Capitol segment of the program will include a tour of the State Assembly Chambers and a discussion between the students and legislative staff members who are active in various Capitol intern and student outreach programs.  John Scribner, a Capitol veteran and member of the Sacramento County Board of Education will be one of the speakers.

The courthouse segment of the program will feature a talk with Superior Court Judge Geoffrey Goodman and representatives of the Sacramento Sheriff's office who help administer the courtrooms.

"We value our partnership with the Sheriff's Department, and thank Judge Goodman, Mr. Scribner and the other Capitol staff for helping us mentor these students," Harris added.

More information on the Sheriff's Activities League (SAL) can be found at www.ssdsal.org.