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Programs Barrister Book Buddies At its organizational meeting in the Summer of 1998, the Board of the Roanoke Bar Association resolved to study and undertake a community service project during the upcoming bar year. At subsequent Board meetings, a number of ideas were discussed and at the suggestion of one member, a representative of the Roanoke City Public Schools was approached. The Board members learned of the importance of reading to obtaining good scores on Standards of Learning tests. The Board also learned that those students who are not reading on grade level by the third grade are never likely to read on level. Last, the Board learned of the Roanoke City Public Schools' implementation of a comprehensive reading plan to improve reading in all grades.
The Roanoke Bar Association Foundation awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors or students attending a four-year college, university or law school. The students must demonstrate diligence in and commitment to their studies, academic excellence, and an interest in the pursuit of the study of law. Applicants must be residents of the City of Roanoke , the City of Salem , or the County of Roanoke , or have graduated from a high school located in those jurisdictions. For more information, call (540) 342-4905 or visit www.roanokebar.com/scholarship.html .
In association with the Art Museum of Western Virginia , members of the Roanoke Bar Association spend one hour on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month reading to elementary school students in the “Book Nook” established in Center in the Square. For more information, contact Nicole Gearren, Manager of School and Family Programs, at (540) 342-5768. In association with the Greater Roanoke Valley Character Coalition, the Roanoke Bar Association assisted in establishing and operating the first Youth Court to be established in the Commonwealth of Virginia . Youth Court is a peer-run tribunal that holds youth accountable for their conduct while teaching them about the justice system. Youth Court focuses on the needs of offenders, victims, and the community while affording students the opportunity to develop problem-solving, communication, and analytical skills. For more information, call Doug Densmore at (540) 510-3024 or The Honorable Diane Strickland (ret.) at (540) 344-5131.
In association with the Virginia State Bar Young Lawyers Conference and the Virginia Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, the Roanoke Bar Association launched a new community service program to provide Roanoke Valley 's firefighters and police officers with free estate documents, such as wills, powers of attorney, and advanced medical directives. For information, contact Ric Scott at (540) 777-6907 or Elizabeth Perrow at (540) 343-2451. |
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In the Spring of 1999, Barrister
Book Buddies was born. Initially implemented during summer school,
the program continues today throughout the school year. RBA members
and staff volunteer to read one hour a month to an elementary school class. 