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Law Day
A Lawyer & Judge in Every School – May 5, 2023
This event pairs attorneys and judges with classrooms throughout the state to discuss concepts of law, rights and responsibilities of citizenship, and additional legal issues consistent with student interest and the course curriculum. For Law Day 2023, the NHBA LRE program encourages attorney presenters to bring one of the following topics, or a topic of your choice, to classrooms across the state.
Cornerstones of Democracy
Civics | Civility | Collaboration
The 2023 Law Day theme is “Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration.” We invite all the people of the United States to join us in rebuilding trust in our institutions, respect for one another, and our willingness to collaborate to address the challenges that face our nation.
In recent years, tensions in our democratic system have revealed deep divisions in American society. These divisions are aggravated by incivility in public discourse and insufficient understanding among many people about the Constitution and the way American government works. Together, however, we can collaborate to overcome our differences, resolve our disputes, and preserve our democracy and republic. To that end, we call on members of the legal profession to lead the way in promoting civics, civility, and collaboration—the cornerstones of our democracy.
The following materials are provided by Federal Judiciary Civics Outreach Program
- Candid Conversations – Program Description
- Candid Conversations – Types of Questions
- Candid Conversations – Judge/Attorney Program Description
- Candid Conversations – Teacher / Student Prep
- Candid Conversations – Student Feedback
- Reality Check Quiz – Blank Question Sheet
- Reality Check Quiz – Answers
- Facebook Posts: Harmless Sarcasm or a Serious Threat?
- From Fireworks to Forest Fire
- The Cost of Fake IDs: Are You Willing to Pay With Your Future?
- When a Student Teacher Drinks and Drives
- When Players Gotta Pay
Middle & High School Lesson Plans
- Take a Stand. Lend a Hand. Stop Bullying!
- Negotiation for Middle School Students
- Just the Facts – What are the steps in a trial?
- What is a Felony?
- Search and Seizure
- What is Truth?
- The Three Branches of Government
- What is a Trial? (Grades 5-8 – See Slide Show)
- What does the 4th Amendment Mean to You? (Grades 5-8 – See Slide Show)
- The Cost of Credit
Sites For Lesson Plans and Ideas
Classroom Presentations
Law Related Education Committee wishes to thank Rebecca Fanning, National Educational Outreach Manager of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts for sharing these lesson plans.
Ms. Fanning tells first-timers with the program (judges, attorneys, and teachers) that the main thing to remember is that this is a Q/A session. What makes it different, and more meaningful, is that the students and teachers spend one class in small groups drilling down and developing questions that matter to the students. Another thing that makes it different – and sets the tone for a highly interactive, candid experience — is that the judge and attorneys open up about why they chose the law and what their work means to them.
Optimally, we suggest ‘live’ classroom visits, although taught virtually allows judges and attorney volunteers in classrooms no matter how far the schools are from the courthouse.
According to a new national poll conducted by the American Bar Association, less than half of the U.S. public knows that John Roberts is chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, while almost one-quarter think it is Ruth Bader Ginsburg and 16 percent believe it is Clarence Thomas.
The nationally representative poll of 1,000 members of the American public found troubling gaps in their knowledge of American history and government, as well as constitutional rights. One in 10 think the Declaration of Independence freed slaves in the Confederate states and almost 1 in 5 believe the first 10 amendments of the U.S. Constitution are called the Declaration of Independence instead of the Bill of Rights.”