The phone survey found that citizens indicated a preference to receive information about the legal system directly from the courts, followed by schools and libraries. A recent ABA commissioned survey substantiated the finding that the public prefers to learn about the courts directly from judges and retired judges, giving tremendous validity to emerging partnerships between the schools and the judiciary. Law-related education can start in kindergarten as the basis and relationship between rules and laws are explored. Law-related education takes the form of separate law classes in middle and high school and also can be integrated into other subjects, taught as a unit or series of units, or approached from a special projects perspective. A wide continuum of options such as Law Week, Constitution Week, and mock trial exists.
Schools vary in their approaches, depending on community support, funding, and other factors.
Teaching students about our justice system and its corresponding constitutional requisites can be professionally and personally rewarding, as an honest, straightforward dialogue can help students see the role of attorneys in the legal system and demystify the system firsthand. The association has evolved into a highly respected entity receiving state, national, and international recognition for its programs. Recognizing the negative impact eroding public trust and confidence can have upon our youth and ultimately our democracy, the association takes public opinion research about the legal system seriously in designing its programs, even for the youngest citizens. Florida lawyers and judges have the opportunity to begin rebuilding public trust and confidence through law-related education programs. The Florida Law Related Education Association, Inc., provides a wide variety of services to help schools develop law-related education programs and to encourage partnerships between the education and legal communities.