function validateForm() {
   
   var _reqFields = $('.required');
  
  // this should be changed to use some attribute other than 'name' in case we need to use name to serialize a form' //
  
  // required fields
   for (var i = 0; i < _reqFields.length; i++) {
      if ($('#' + _reqFields[i].id).val() == '') {
         alert(_reqFields[i].name + " is a required field");
         _reqFields[i].focus();
         return false;
      }
   }
   
   
   return true;
}