Barbara Jordan American Inn of Court

The Barbara Jordan American Inn of Court in Austin, Texas, recently had the honor of assisting a local high school’s legal studies and mock trial programs. Akins High School, led by local attorney and teacher Armin Salek, Esquire, has one of the country’s first high school legal aid clinics. Its mock trial team recently qualified for a national finals competition. Both programs help introduce students to the practice of law and act as a pipeline to future legal careers. When Salek attended the Barbara Jordan Inn as a guest to solicit financial support for his team’s expenses for the national competition, the Inn jumped at the opportunity. Master and Inn Counselor Justice Jeffrey S. Boyd of the Texas Supreme Court graciously made a matching gift of $1,250 with a challenge to the remaining Inn members to raise the balance. The Inn quickly raised over $3,000 to help fund the high school program’s expenses.

Photo: Barbara Jordan American Inn of Court members Justice Jeffrey S. Boyd (back, second from right); Melissa Lee Hargis, Esq. (front, second from right); and Francesca DiTroia (front, far right), along with teacher Armin Salek, Esq. (front, third from right), and members of the Akin High debate team and other Akins staff.