Barrack Legal Counsel
Barrack Legal Counsel raises money for competitive legal programs and learning opportunities so that cost is not a barrier to student participation.
The Counsel raises money for competitive legal programs and learning opportunities so that cost is not a barrier to student participation. The Counsel is currently supporting the following Barrack student-led clubs and initiatives: Mock Trial, Moot Beit Din, Model UN, and the annual 10th grade Washington, D.C. curricular trip.
National Mock Trial Club Competitions
Barrack upper school students have the opportunity to compete in the Pennsylvania state mock trial competition where they take on roles as witnesses, plaintiffs, and defendants to argue a hypothetical case, developing their critical thinking skills, learning about the court system, and working together as a team to win their case.
Maimonides Moot Beit Din
Through a program sponsored by the Hadar Institute, upper school students have the opportunity to compete against other Jewish schools across the country as they argue a hypothetical case that they research and rule on as a court. Students selected to attend the national competition defend the ruling of the “Moot Din of B’nei Barrack”’ in front of a panel of judges, giving students real-world experience in ethics and research while infusing their decision-making with Jewish values. The topic varies by year and has previously touched on themes ranging from social media use to animal and labor rights.
Model UN
Model UN is a simulation of the UN General Assembly and its other multilateral bodies where students perform an ambassador role while debating topics such as gender equality, climate action, global health, and more.
10th grade Washington, D.C. Curricular Trip
Students learn about the power of advocacy and representation on a visit to the nation’s capital where the students will learn about various policy issues and about how the government works. The visit culminates with students going to Capitol Hill to lobby at the offices of their senator or representative about issues they care about. This trip is also an important part of their history curriculum that examines the development of representative government.
Past Programs Include
"You Be the Judge" Mocktails Event
In a networking evening with the Mock Trial, Moot Beit Din, and Model UN clubs, the Legal Counsel served as judges in a mock case and gave advice to participants in these student-led clubs.
Law School 101: Navigating Law School Admissions
This event gave upper school students and young alumni the opportunity to hear from a panel of current alumni attending law school about navigating the admissions process and planning for their future careers.
Upper School Career Day
Co-hosted by our Affinity Groups/Legal Counsel as well as parents, alumni, and members of the community, this event brings speakers to share their career journeys and insights with upper school students about their careers advice to our students and gives members an opportunity to connect and network.
CLE Class on “Ethics of Speech”
As part of our continuing legal education offerings, the Legal Counsel sponsored a continuing legal education class to community members seeking CLE credits. The 2-credit class featured Rabbi Marshall Lesack ‘97, Head of School, Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, as well as Dr. Zev Eleff, President, Gratz College to discuss the values and ethics that guide Jewish legal professionals.
Discussion on “An Exclusive Conversation on Resiliency”
Featuring Steve Collis, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer at Cencora (formerly AmerisourceBergen), this program on resiliency discussed medical pandemic responses and the evolving global pharma industry.
Never Again. Again? A Dialogue: From Auschwitz to Combating Antisemitism on College Campuses” with special guests Scott Bornstein and Michael Bornstein
We welcomed Michael Bornstein, one of the youngest children liberated from Auschwitz, and his son, Scott J. Bornstein, Senior VP of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, who dedicates a great deal of time to pro bono work combating antisemitism, including leading pending litigation on behalf of Israeli and American victims of the terrorist attacks on October 7. Together, they explored the history and present of antisemitism through personal vignettes and professional experience and spoke to efforts to raise awareness and combat it in all contexts.
Barrack's student leaders from our Holocaust Education and Reflection (HEAR), Mock Trial, and Moot Beit Din clubs moderated the event and we would like to thank our sponsors, Capstone Law, MK S&S Law Firm, and Anderson Kill.
Barrack Legal Counsel Steering Committee Members
Chair
Stu Goodman
Committee Members
Jeffrey A. Barrack
Jeremy Goodman ‘15
Staci Julie
Jonathan Levin
Hyla Rosenberg
Bradford J. Sandler
Shira Katz Scanlon '02
Bruce Strong '06
Faculty Liaison
Rachel Kosloff Scheinmann '88
Corporate Sponsorships
For more information on corporate sponsorship opportunities, please contact Rachel Baum, Senior Institutional Advancement Officer by phone at 610.922.2335 or by email at rbaum@jbha.org.
Interested in joining the Barrack Legal Counsel?
For more information, please contact Rachel Baum, Senior Institutional Advancement Officer by phone at 610.922.2335 or by email at rbaum@jbha.org.
Contact
RACHEL BAUM
Senior Institutional
Advancement Officer
Advancement Officer