Law-related education: a responsibility of the legal profession.

• Author: Kogan, Gerald

"The bar increases public esteem by the precepts it lives by, not by the money it makes. In fact if money making is the lawyer's sole purpose, he worships a god that is too small. If he does not approach the law as an avenue to perform a fine public service, he should turn to some other other business...."

-- Taken from Petition of Florida State Bar Association, et al., to Integrate the Bar, Supreme Court of Florida, June 7, 1949

A lawyer's responsibilities have always extended far beyond adequate representation of one's clients. As officers of the court, closely aligned with the judicial branch, lawyers have a significant duty and responsibility to the system.(1) Lawyers are not only advocates for their clients but also guardians of our constitutionally protected rights. For full and equal access to justice to be achieved, we must begin with access to knowledge and information, including law-related education.(2)

Through comprehensive law-related education programs, the legal profession can help fulfill its obligation to the public and rebuild public trust and confidence in the legal system. It can start with a single classroom visit and extend to circuit-wide judicial partnerships and teacher training initiatives. Whatever the plan, law-related education offers a wide range of opportunities for lawyers to meet their responsibilities.

Noteworthy Volunteers

Successful implementation of law-related education programs requires the active involvement of attorneys and judges from throughout the state. Florida's most noteworthy law-related education volunteers are from the Supreme Court of Florida. The courthouse doors have literally been opened to encourage student access to the courts and judicial outreach to the classroom.

The widely recognized access initiative ushered in a new era of public education, outreach, and accessibility. The justices interact with thousands of Florida students who visit the court on field trips and participate in mock oral arguments relating to school uniforms, locker searches, and any number of issues.(3) The students become "justices for a day" deciding challenging constitutional issues.

Florida Supreme Court justices also participate in an annual "justice teach-in" which includes visits to classrooms throughout the state during Constitution Week to heighten student awareness of the courts and the constitution. Many of the justices participate in visits and events throughout the year as well. The involvement of Florida's Supreme Court justices provides a model for judicial outreach statewide.

The Florida Law Related Education Association, Inc., has developed a variety of activities to assist judges and attorneys who visit K-12 classrooms. A Justice is Served! manual provides hands-on activities to utilize with students of all ages. Beyond these activities, students are able to "connect" with judges, learn more about the need for an independent judiciary, and recognize that the courts can be interesting and engaging. Judges become our children's newest heroes and dispel some of the inaccuracies portrayed by the media. Training is provided through a variety of avenues including the Appellate Judges Conference and The Florida Bar Speakers Bureau. Chief Justice Major B. Harding has encouraged judges to use the activities with adult audiences as well. The manual is updated and published annually with new activities and methods. Lawyers and judges can download the manual from The Florida Bar website.

Supreme Court Justice R. Fred Lewis uses the activities when he visits schools with FLREA Executive Director Annette Boyd Pitts approximately twice a month. One student remarked, "Justice Lewis is cool--I can tell he really likes children!" Another fourth grader wrote, "I never knew our rights were so `connected'--sort of like a food chain. I now know I wouldn't want to lose any of my rights." Finally, an elementary school student wrote after a visit: "This is how I think of you--I have a light and it won't turn on and then you come in and it turns on!" Now that's success.

Hundreds of Florida's attorneys and judges are involved in law-related education in their local communities today. Their help is essential to portraying an accurate and realistic picture of our legal system and the constitutional requisites which...