By bringing together teachers, practicing attorneys, judges, elected officials, police officers, community leaders and other volunteers, law and citizenship education comes alive for young people. This innovative program offers a stimulating approach to learning about law and how our legal system functions. Guided by teachers and volunteer legal advisors, students prepare and present oral arguments on a constitutional issue in a simulated trial. Teams from high schools across Ohio argue their cases in statewide competition, with the winner advancing to a national tournament. Along with the students, members of the bar also experience significant benefits.
Attorneys serve as advisors, judges, case developers and in other roles.
They are inspired by these young people, their hard work, excellent preparation, intelligent questioning of witnesses, polished arguments and fierce advocacy. The attorneys and judges who participate in the Mock Trial Program are uniform in their satisfaction and praise for the Mock Trial Program. Each summer some 200 students in grades 4-9 from throughout Ohio attend Law and Citizenship Camp or Law and Citizenship Academy. Teacher training programs, conducted with the help of attorneys and other professionals in law, include Ohio Government in Action, a fall Law and Citizenship Conference, and Law-related education summer institutes. How to become involved We need your help in educating students about the law.