“Take Your Child to Work” day often translates into children running around and wreaking havoc, scaring off some businesses from participating at all. Local New Brunswick law firm, Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Doukas, LLP, the largest in the city, decided this year to really teach their children what it is they do. With 42 children present, from ages 6 to 15, it was a daunting task but the attorneys and employees were up to it and the end result was a success.

The day began with typical fare, doughnuts and juice (coffee for the adults!). Managing Partner Gary Hoagland kicked off the morning with his welcome speech. Gary grew up around the law firm, as his father was a founding member. He would go and do his homework there in his early years, then worked in the mailroom and as a law clerk in his later years.   It was an endearing and applicable story and many of the kids were excited to start the day knowing a “Dad” was running the place. 

Following Gary’s introduction, the first surprise of the day walked in, Deputy Director Peter Mangarella of the New Brunswick Police Department. Deputy Mangarella took this opportunity to not only educate the children about the job of a policeman but also to encourage them to stay off the streets and in school. When the deputy asked the children about what crimes could land them in jail, the answers were enthusiastic and almost endless--including, “drawing on other people’s stuff”, drugs, stealing, and of course, hitting a police officer.

One of the main activities was the mock trial where a personal injury lawsuit was taken up by the children and advised by a few of the firm’s attorneys. At issue was a Wii controller that had flown out of the defendant’s hand and hit the plaintiff on the head, knocking him unconscious, and therefore leading to him to sue his friend for $1 million. There were witnesses, a jury, a plaintiff, and attorneys, all played by the children. Our judge for a day, Nora Grimbergen, presided over and helped the jury come to their “Not Guilty” verdict. 

After a visit to the courtroom of Honorable Roger Daley where the kids learned about family court and as one precocious boy called it “juvey”, the kids settled into an afternoon of pizza, games, and our second surprise, ice cream sundaes. All in all, it was a fun, educational day for the kids. And for the firm, it was another year to see our “family” grow and show our kids where we go every day.