Law Students Teach 'Street Law' to High School Students

Boyd School of Law students hosted over 80 students from Valley High School in Las Vegas to participate in a mock trial as part of the law school’s Street Law program. The mock trial was held on April 24 at the law school’s Thomas & Mack Moot Court Facility.

Law students organized the Street Law mock trial during which they served as coaches and judges. They also held a panel discussion for the high school students and gave them a tour of the law school.

Over 25 law students volunteered to participate in Street Law this semester. The Street Law program allows law students the opportunity to conduct discussions with high school students about practical legal problems, contemporary legal issues, and the ramifications of breaking the law. This semester, the law students taught legal subjects such as landlord tenant, juvenile justice, search and seizure, internet harassment, criminal law, negligence, and intentional torts.

“Our Street Law program is, at the moment, a start up effort in which a number of eager and dedicated law students are working as volunteers, earning no academic credit or other form of compensation,” said Frank Durand, Dean for Student Advancement at the Boyd School of Law. “Professor Correales and I hope to see the program eventually become established as a part of our curriculum for which students will earn credit toward their degrees.”

Working with leaders of various law student organizations, Dean Durand and Professor Robert Correales created a version of the Street Law program at Boyd in the spring of last year. Street Law is a national program that seeks to provide young people with information about the law. The program is designed to engage high school students in a critical examination of their legal responsibilities and rights. The ultimate goal of the program is to provide high school students with a sense of belonging in society through empowerment with knowledge of the law.

Law student volunteers also organized the Street Law mock trials held this year and last year for the first time on May 23. To view photos from last year’s event, click here.

This year’s Street Law mock trials were sponsored by the Boyd School of Law and the following here. (Adobe Flash required)