Here at Kazan Law our top priority is seeking justice for our clients who are asbestos exposure victims. A big part of doing that is taking a big picture approach that encompasses the past, the present, and the future.
We fight hard for our clients in the present but we hope there will be no victims of asbestos exposure in the future. In fact we hope for a future with fewer victims of any kind of crime and a better understanding of the laws that help us all create a more civil and equitable society.
To help forge that kind of future, our firm funds a very important educational activity in our local high schools called a “mock trial competition.” And in doing this we honor our firm’s past by dedicating the competition to the memory of our dear friend and partner Philip A. Harley. (1947-2009).
During his career, Phil was a dedicated attorney for victims of asbestos exposure and other catastrophic, toxic -related diseases and injuries. He believed his knowledge and skills were best used to assist those who have been the most severely impacted by corporate misconduct. He always made a point of supporting consumer advocacy programs including trial-related education programs.
We are proud that the Alameda County Philip A.Harley Memorial Mock Trial Competition has become an annual testament to Phil’s legacy of justice and advocacy. The competition is a countywide high school criminal trial program designed to increase understanding of our judicial system and the processes necessary to create a just society. Student teams of ten to twenty students study a hypothetical case, conduct legal research, and receive individual coaching by volunteer attorneys in trial preparation, courtroom protocol, courtroom procedure, analytical skills, and communication skills.
Congratulations to American High School for taking first place at the Alameda County Philip A. Harley Memorial Mock Trial final competition. We are pleased to continue supporting this event in Phil’s honor.