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Professor Thomas Ringer lectures in the Moot Court Room of the Turner Law School Building during Law Week, which marked the school’s 60th anniversary. Photo: Gary Tates

"Sixty years of helping people learn to help others" was the slogan during N.C. Central University’s Law Week, which celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Turner Law School at NCCU.

Law Week 2000 was observed at NCCU from March 26-April 1. The majority of the 20 events were held on campus.

"Law Week is like our own homecoming," said Student Bar Association President Laureece Lewis. "Most students look forward to it because it is our biggest event."

"The Trial Advocacy Mary Wright Competition gave first-year law students the opportunity to compete in an intra-school competition by performing closing arguments," according to Tyesha Elam, a graduating third-year student who presided over the competition.

"Out of 21 students, 8 were selected to advance to the final round and each student was given the same case based on an established fact pattern," said Elam.

"There was also a basketball tournament that the first and second year law students competed in," said Elam. "The second-year law students won and went on to beat the third-year law students in the final round."

Other events included student bar association class officer election speeches, an alumni panel, a step show performed by the Alpha Kappa Alpaha fraternity, and a mini-fair dubbed "Law Fest."

"I think seeing alumni come back is a warm reminder that there is life after law school," said Lewis. "At Law Fest we played games like tug-o-war, egg toss, hoola hoop, and we had lots of fun and food," said Elam. "Law Week was mainly a week for everyone to come out and enjoy each other," said Lewis.

"Law School is far different from undergraduate college because you have to work for everything. Nothing is given to you," said Professor Thomas Ringer, who hosted a lecture in the Moot Court Room concerning the mode of impeachment, cross-examination, extrinsic evidence, and rehabilitation.

"We wish more students from Central would come over here. The law school is a school of opportunity which takes great pride in producing trial lawyers," Ringer said. "We want to make sure they are prepared to deal with the difficulties of being lawyers in the real world."

"Our law school students have gone on to win five regional championships out of the last seven years in the regional trial competition which includes schools such as UNC-Chapel Hill, Campbell University and Wake Forest."

"As minority students we think our students must be ready to deal with obstacles."

"I feel fortunate to graduate at a time when modern technology makes it a little easier, but I hope it does not make our job less personal or we lose the service aspect of the profession," said Elam.