By Ida Chipman Correspondent
PLYMOUTH  — Sixteen-year-old Michael Treat, a junior at Plymouth High School, “lawyered-up” in Washington, D.C. through a National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF), Nov. 17 to 22.
And he liked it.

The six-day program, a forum on Law and Crime Scene Investigation, introduced outstanding high school students from across the United States to challenging careers in the legal profession.
Founded in 1992, the NYLF is an educational organization established to help prepare extraordinary young people for their professional careers. Forums are offered in 11 cities across the United States in a wide variety of career fields, such as national security, law and crime scene investigation and medicine.  Over 50,000 young people have attended NYLF programs.
Michael, the son of Gary Treat and Denise Treat, has had a longtime ambition to be involved in the legal field.
“I’d like to culminate a career in criminal law with service on the bench,” he said.
Of the 200 participating students, Michael was the only one from Indiana chosen.
He was on the winning side in a mock trial, defending his client.  In a Supreme Court hearing, he was selected as the Chief Justice, and was able to ask a lot of questions.
Marguerite Regan, dean of academic affairs for the NYLF, pointed out that “because our legal system plays a vital role in our daily lives, the NYLF on Law and Crime Scene Investigation offers students the opportunity the learn directly from partners in law firms, criminal defense attorneys and prosecutors, as well as professors and other experts of the legal profession.
“This is where the future for many students begins to take shape,” she said.
Michael especially appreciated the discussions about the attorney’s code of ethics.
He also got a taste of pre-trial preparation, international antitrust and competition law and what life as a young attorney is like in a law firm.
A graduate of the Discovery Middle School in Granger, Michael enjoyed visiting the Library of Congress, Capitol Hill and the Holocaust Museum.
Named “Student of the Month” in both his business and French classes this fall, Michael is an officer of the Pep Club, is on the Student Council and is active in  Broadcasting, the Business Professionals of America Club, Future Teachers of America and the French and Key Clubs. An honor student, he is also on the Plymouth golf team.
“I learned a lot about the law and law school. Our advisors gave us a lot of insight,” Michael said. “I have not decided where I would like to do my undergraduate and law school work, but I intend to start looking soon.”