BaRRlSTeRS Pre-law students work together to prepare for future profession Taking its name from an oldworld term describing legal counsel permitted to represent clients in an English superior court, the Harding chapter of Barristers ultimately sought to help the university's prelaw students prepare to represent their own future clients. "The process of getting into law school is very involved, and the group's main goal is to make its members more aware of what it actually takes to be prepared to make it as a lawyer," said Dr. Andy Olree, professor of political science. He has served as faculty advisor of Harding's chapter of the national college-based organization for six years. Olree, who graduated from Harding in 1989, received his juris doctorate from the University of Chicago in 1994, then practiced for about a year before coming back to his alma mater to teach political science and advise the university's pre-law majors. "I had always planned to be a teacher, but my experiences practicing law have given me the opportunity to explain more fully to my students what the law is," he said. "It helps me to tell other people what to expect when they begin their career as a lawyer. You also almost have to practice law some in order to pay back your student loans." Barristers President Shane Randolph said the profession's relaSeniors Shane Randolph, Adam Simpson and Michael Moss listen to different sides of an argument during a Debate Team meeting. Team members practiced regularly for competitions around the region. 208 organizations tive uncertainty makes the organization a valuable asset to Harding students who aspire to become lawyers or legal professionals. "It really helps us get the feel of what it takes to get into law school," he said. "It really allows us to prepare for the experience together. Our meetings act as a kind of gathering place. We certainly have a pretty good influx of students every semester." Randolph, a senior, said Barristers has helped him chart his own educational course while at Harding, allowing him the time to prepare for the LSAT, the law school entrance exam. "It's a very structured test," Randolph said. "We've developed a small lending library of books and other materials that will help prepare us to take it. We all share the information to increase our chances of doing well on the test." The group also completed a number of activities, including service projects and a mock trial competition with other regional schools. Guest speakers regularly visited the group's meetings to address a number of legal topics. "A lot of people don't realize that law is as complicated as it is," Randolph said. "But we try to make the process as clear as possible, we all are trying to get the feel of the law school experience." -Chad Lawson
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