Law-Related Education

Why Law-Related Education?
During his keynote address at the State Bar of Georgia's 2005 Bar Center Dedication Ceremony, United States Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy told attendees, "One of the greatest duties of any generation, and particularly of its bar, is to transmit the idea of freedom and the rule of law to the next generation." He urged Bar leaders to use the Bar Center to "invite young people to come inside the law." The Bar's Law-Related Education (LRE) program was created in response to this proclamation.

Free Teacher Workshops Meeting the Georgia Performance Standards
The LRE program exists to serve teachers in their efforts to teach about the law in their classes, by developing curriculum material for grades K-12 and holding workshops on various aspects of law-related education. These workshops are designed for teachers who want basic training in law-related education, law-related education resources and teaching strategies, as well as basic substantive information about such areas as the civil, criminal and juvenile justice processes; the federal and state court systems; and alternative dispute resolution.

"Using Law-Related Education to Meet the Georgia Performance Standards" is a 10-hour workshop designed for teachers in grade levels K-12. While primarily intended for Social Studies and Language Arts teachers, those in other areas can also benefit from this workshop, which includes cross-curricular activities for all grade levels. During this workshop, participants are introduced to law-related education and its resources and then are led through the legal process, from the need for rules and types of legal rules to how we deal with rules violations and alternatives to the legal process. Teachers explore a variety of law-related education teaching strategies, including mock trials and role playing exercises, as well as developing lesson plans for their classrooms.

As a result of the new eighth grade performance standards requiring Georgia students to analyze the role of Georgia's judicial branch and to explain how the Georgia court system treats juvenile offenders, we now also offer "Teaching Georgia's Juvenile Justice System." This workshop provides teachers with all of the information and teaching strategies necessary to meet the performance standards on Georgia's criminal and juvenile justice systems.

Journey Through Justice Program
Journey Through Justice is a free, four-hour, interactive learning experience for students and teachers in grades 3-12. We eagerly invite you to join us as we open your eyes to the excitement, fun and knowledge of the law.

Relive the drama of the past through the eyes of Edith Wilson as she shares her memories of her husband, President Woodrow Wilson. Then visit the authentic replica of his 19th century office, which was located in downtown Atlanta in 1823. Many of the artifacts are from the original office.

Be a "Legal Eagle"
Experience the fun, excitement and challenge of our Woodrow Wilson School of Law. Students see the law come alive as experienced teachers and attorney docents challenge them with insightful, age-appropriate lessons on such topics as juvenile justice, torts, criminal law and the Constitution. Become an "Honorary Attorney for the Day" after passing our bar exam and then prepare to try a case.

Drama, Drama, Drama
We have the robes, the gavel and the age-appropriate cases. All we need is your students to serve as our lawyers, witnesses and jurors.

Legal History Comes Alive
Delve into America's mesmerizing legal past in our Law Museum. Through educational and interactive displays and knowledgeable docents, learn about: the Bill of Rights; Freedom's Call: the March for Civil Rights; Cruel and Unusual Punishment; Checks and Balances: the Role of the American Judiciary; and Famous Georgian and American Trials. A museum scavenger hunt also awaits eager participants!

Lights, Camera, Action
Our riveting day ends with "Reel Justice," a 12-minute compilation of 75 past and present Hollywood films depicting a variety of law-related courtroom scenes and cases. The Journey Through Justice will leave you echoing Tom Hanks's memorable and appropriate quote, "I love the law!"

Hear From Our Visitors
"I can't thank you enough for the terrific field trip you provided for our eighth grade classes. It is a sure sign of success when these teenagers continue talking about the trip days and days afterward. They even asked me if we could write letters to thank you for everything you did! You, obviously, made quite a wonderful impression and have inspired quite a few of our students to look further into law. I, indeed our whole eighth grade staff, thank you for this great opportunity. We will be sure to visit again next year!" (middle school teacher)

"Thank you for letting me be the bad person who ran over your bush plant." (elementary school student)

"Thank you for teaching us, for making our field trip fun, for making me the wolf's attorney." (elementary school student)

"It was very interesting, especially the famous cases. For example, the Lindburgh baby case. I have heard of the case, but I never knew what happened to the baby. When you told me, I told my mom, and it turns out she didn't know either, so you helped me teach my mom something!" (middle school student)

"Thank you so much for having my school at the Georgia Bar Association and teaching us all about homicide. It was very interesting. As you talked about Woodrow Wilson, I became more and more enthralled in your story. It was one of the greatest performances I've ever seen! … Also, the case of Lizzy Borden interested me very much. I'm really into homicide cases and catching the bad guy. Personally, I think she's innocent. Thanks for all you've done." (middle school student)

"I have a back-up plan now. If sports doesn't work out, I will become a lawyer or better yet a bailiff." (middle school student who played a bailiff during the trial)

Come Inside the Law!
Law-related education is an interactive method of teaching young people about the law and the fundamental principles on which it is based, including principles related to such connecting themes in Social Studies as the rule of law and conflict resolution. More specifically, law-related education provides instruction concerning legal rights and responsibilities, and it encourages informed participation in our democratic government. National and state studies show, and the Georgia General Assembly agrees, that law-related education deters delinquency and reduces disciplinary problems because it fosters the development of decision-making, problem solving and conflict management skills.

For more information and to schedule a teacher workshop or Journey Through Justice tour, contact the LRE program.

Law-Related Education Program
State Bar of Georgia
104 Marietta St. NW, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30303-2743
404-527-8785 or 800-334-6865
Fax 404-527-8717
www.gabar.org/law_related_education
deborahcc@gabar.org

Current Downloads

Trial By Jury: What's the Big Deal? "Trial By Jury: What's the Big Deal?" is an animated presentation for high school civics classes in Georgia to increase court literacy among young people.

State Bar of Georgia LRE Informational Brochure
Download this brochure (in pdf format), which provides information on why your class should schedule a field trip to the State Bar of Georgia.

AMERICA'S COURTS: Providing Access to Justice and Accountability as our Founding Fathers Intended
Download this educational presentation (in pdf format), which provides a historical overview of the U.S. court system, and its important role in America's justice system.