Law-Related Education

The State Bar of Georgia is committed to educating students and the public
about America's promise of justice for all, the importance of courts,
the role of judges and lawyers, the role of public juries
and the value of the rule of law.

Welcome to the State Bar of Georgia's newly created Law Related Education web page. In addition to encouraging educators to visit the Bar Center, this page is designed to provide civic and law-related materials to assist teachers in their charge of educating the next generation of U.S. citizens.

During his keynote address at the Bar Center Dedication Ceremony on Jan. 15, 2005, 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."

Bar leaders decided to do just that by opening the Bar Center's doors to students and offering them a variety of hands-on educational tools.

From the moment students enter the building they are greeted with historical information. The first thing they will notice is a replica of President Woodrow Wilson's 19th century law office, which was located in downtown Atlanta in 1882. Many of the artifacts came from the original office.

Through educational and interactive displays in the Bar's Museum of Law, visitors will learn about:

• The Bill of Rights -- Explore your rights through an interactive computer activity
• Cruel and Unusual? Death Penalty Cases -- Punishment comes alive with stark visuals and interactive kiosks
• Checks and Balances: The Role of the American Judiciary -- Discover significant people, places and events as they relate to the judicial branch of government 
• Freedom's Call: The March for Civil Rights -- Provides information on Martin Luther King Jr. and the role of the courts in providing civil rights in this country 
• Famous Georgia and American Trials -- Learn about famous Georgia and American trials from Chisholm v. Georgia to Plessy v. Ferguson to the Scopes "Monkey" Trial to Brown v. Board of Education to the recent case concerning the Georgia voter identification law.

Lights, Camera, Action! -- After touring the museum, visitors are treated to Reel Justice -- a 12 minute compilation of 70 past and present Hollywood films depicting a variety of law-related courtroom scenes and cases. Among the films are: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Firm, My Cousin Vinny, A Few Good Men, Rules of Engagement, Legally Blonde, 12 Angry Men, Liar Liar, Runaway Jury and JFK. The walls of the theater, which seats between 20 to 26 people, are lined with posters from many of the clips.

Try a case? -- We have the robes, the gavel and the case! All that is needed is you! Students can participate in age appropriate cases, playing the role of lawyers, witnesses and jury members.

Be a Legal Eagle -- Georgia judges and lawyers lead discussions and answer the many excellent questions asked by the students.

For more information, or to schedule a field trip, call 404-419-0155 or 800-334-6865. Field trips are available for students in grades K-12 beginning August 2006.

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.