LAWYERS SHARE EXPERTISE WITH STUDENTS AT EASTERN HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

Gold Seal Program of Choice Provides Practical Experience in Criminal Justice Field 

More than 100 Eastern Hills High School students learned about the criminal aspects of intellectual property and counterfeit goods from a group of lawyers visiting the school for a “Lunch and Learn” event on Wednesday, May 23.  The attorneys volunteered their time to meet with students enrolled in the school’s Law Enforcement and Legal Services Gold Seal Program of Choice and to share their understanding of a problem that is growing not only in the United States but around the globe.

The event was the third in a series of what has proven to be a popular Lunch and Learn program at the eastside campus.  These events were conducted by attorneys for the benefit of students in the Gold Seal program who are interested in pursuing careers in law enforcement or law. 

Facilitating the Intellectual Property Lunch and Learn discussion was Ms. Genie Hansen, a partner with the Dallas-based intellectual property law firm Hemingway & Hansen LLP, an intellectual property law firm. Ms. Hansen also serves the State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Law Section as Public Relations Chairperson.

Joining Ms. Hansen was Victoria Helling, attorney, who works for The Agency Dallas; Cynthia Dashiell, attorney, with The Danamraj Law Group, P.C.; Nicole Sallie Franklin, attorney, IP Specialist with Facebook, Austin; and Purvi Patel, attorney, chair of Haynes and Boone’s Trademark Practice Group.

“Though many people are only tangentially aware of counterfeit goods, there is a projection that the counterfeit industry will have a negative impact of $1.75 trillion dollars by the year 2015,” Hansen said.  “The counterfeit industry directly affects the availability of jobs in the United States, and some of the merchandise actually poses health and safety threats.”

Hansen said students may have been exposed to the counterfeit phenomenon through stores or street vendors selling highly discounted name-brand merchandise such as designer clothing, shows, perfumes, and even computer games.  Students participated in skits and role playing to help illustrate counterfeit intellectual property for the group while the attorneys provided additional information about the issues that are involved.

The Law Enforcement and Legal Services program at Eastern Hills is designed to prepare high school students for productive employment in the criminal justice field. Students explore academic and career information in the courts, law enforcement, corrections, probation and juvenile justice. Students gain practical experience in their high school’s courtroom and participate in internships with government agencies, law offices and law enforcement facilities. Courses unique to this program include Introduction to Public Service, Law Enforcement I and II and Introduction to Law and Forensics.

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