Sach with his 2-year-old, Reesa, at a Bailey & Oliver community coffee connection.
Our firm is proud to actively participate in the community. We are always striving to be better citizens and encourage others to contribute to the betterment of society. Here are a few areas which we are involved in our local communities.
Sach with his 2-year-old, Reesa, at a Bailey & Oliver community coffee connection.
Children Christmas Gifts
At Bailey and Oliver, instead of exchanging gifts between the attorneys and staff, we have started finding some children who would not otherwise have much Christmas and buying gifts for them.
This year our staff wanted to take the money that would normally be spent on their gifts and buy toys and a winter jacket for a child whose father had been killed in a tragic accident. That small gesture made Christmas extra special for our client and our office this year. Our staff always steps up and does something similar each year.
Every day, there is an opportunity to do good somewhere, if we can just keep our eyes open we can find the opportunity.
Charitable Auctioneering
Relying on his God-given talent of a great speaking voice, and outgoing personality, attorney Sach Oliver volunteers his services as an auctioneer to local charities. Sach will work up a sweat and have the audience in stitches before saying, “sold!”
Sach has helped organizations such as Hospice , Helping Oncology Patients Excel, Cancer Challenge, Pathfinder, local churches such as Elm Spring United Methodist Church, and many others raise tens of thousands of dollars. In one event Sach help raise over $80,000 for those in need.
At Bailey and Oliver, we believe that good comes from helping others. If we help our community, it improves everyone’s life. That is our reward. For that reason, we don’t charge a dime for Sach’s auctioneering service if the event is for a non-profit cause.
Look for Sach at the next charity auction; let him know about your favorite non-profit and ask him if he can help you raise money for your cause at your next event. Or you can email him at soliver@baileyoliverlawfirm.com or call him at 479-273-1445.
Bologna and Cheese for Local Shelters
Once a week, the staff and attorneys at Bailey and Oliver make bologna and cheese sandwiches for local shelters. This practice started after Atlanta attorney, Don Keenan, challenged Arkansas lawyers to give back to the community at a seminar hosted by our firm.
Mr. Keenan’s law firm started this practice of giving back years ago. What started out in Atlanta as a small donation to the community has now evolved into Keenan’s Kids Foundation which gives thousands of dollars annually to needy children.
It only cost about $22 per week; however the appreciation from those who reap the benefit is priceless. When we speak at state and national seminars to attorneys we always encourage each law firm to adopt this practice in their community.
Northwest Arkansas Continuing Legal Education
Each year, on the first Friday in November, Bailey and Oliver sponsors a six hour continuing legal education program in conjunction with the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association at the University of Arkansas Global Campus in the World Trade Center in Rogers, Arkansas. Practicing lawyers from all over Arkansas and the Region attend to hear the presentations and improve their trial skills.
We have had world famous lawyers come to Northwest Arkansas to share their trial skills with attendees. In addition to arranging for speakers, Bailey and Oliver sponsors a luncheon for the attendees which gives them an opportunity to connect to the speakers and other attendees.
This seminar has rapidly gained recognition throughout Arkansas as comparable with national seminars costing ten times more. It has also become the largest income producing seminar for the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association.
At Bailey and Oliver, we believe that by improving the trial bar in Arkansas, not only will it help people who have been needlessly injured, but it will improve the quality of life for all of us.
Annual Closing Argument Competition
Each fall, Bailey and Oliver sponsors a Closing Argument Competition for the top 15
law students in the University of Arkansas School of Law Trial Competition. The fact pattern that determines the closing argument is the same fact pattern used in the students’ inter-school competition which Sach won when he was a law student.
The competition takes place in the Bailey and Oliver Courtroom in our Bentonville office. Judges come from the local legal and political community. After the competition, prizes are awarded to the top three students. First prize is $1500, second $750, and third $250. All participants are given a T-shirt and asked to sign a poster which is prominently displayed in the Courtroom to commemorate their participation in the Closing Argument Competition.
We hope that the experience provided by the Closing Argument Competition will help the students develop their trial skills as well as hone their critical thinking. I know after each competition we are thrilled at the quality of the closing arguments.
Annual Speech Competition
Each spring, Bailey and Oliver sponsors a Speech Contest for the Bentonville High School students. The high school forensics team selects the topic for the competition. Once a topic has been selected, the students then either give a pro or con argument concerning the topic. Some topics for this competition have been: “What Role Should the Government Take in Monitoring Online Bullying?” and “Whether paroles, pardons and commutations undermine the judicial system.”
The competition takes place in the Bailey and Oliver Courtroom in our Bentonville office. Judges come from the local legal and political community. After the competition, prizes are awarded to the top three students. First prize is $300, second $200, and third $100. All participants receive T-shirts and are asked to sign a poster which is prominently displayed in the Courtroom to commemorate their participation in the Speech Contest.
Mrs. Julia Woods, from the Bentonville High School provides invaluable assistance in
organizing the competition each year.
We hope that the experience provided by the speech contest will help students develop their public speaking ability and hone their critical thinking skills. I know after each competition we are thrilled by the electricity and energy the young students display.
