jquery validation highlight

Hello,

I'm trying to use jquery validation highlight method but I get an error:

highlight: function(element, errorClass) {
     if (element.attr("name") == "aupairLanguageList")
        $("#multiSelect-aupairLanguageList-title").addClass("error");
  },
  unhighlight: function(element, errorClass) {
     if (element.attr("name") == "aupairLanguageList")
        $("#multiSelect-aupairLanguageList-title").removeClass("error");
  }


"element.attr is not a function"

Any ideas?

Thanks