[jQuery] Trigger validate on button click event

[Rockinelle]

I am trying to trigger validation on a form that is using custom ajax
request that is processed when a button is clicked. I have scoured the
docs and I'm not clear how I can trigger validation on this click. The
form is using basic validation at the moment.

$(document).ready(function(){
        $('#testForm').validate();

        $('#searchButton').click(function(){
                formDoAjaxSubmit();
        });
});

<form id="testForum">
  <select name="list" id="list" class="required" title="Please Select
a Category">
        <option>...</option>
        <option>...</option>
        <option>...</option>
  </select>
<input type="button" value="Submit this Query!" id="searchButton">

</form>