Lessons in law, lessons in life.

Objection, your Honor! Counsel is leading the witness." Does this sound like your last trial or maybe an episode of Law and Order? This is actually just one of the statements from the many courtrooms filled with high school students. Yes, you heard it right, they are high school students. These students are involved in a mock trial program which gives them the opportunity to have their day in court literally.

Over 400 students in Florida were involved in the competitive mock trial program at the state and district level last year. Twenty-five high schools from counties all across Florida participated in the 1999 High School Mock Trial State Finals, which increases each year as more districts become involved. The district winners will now compete in judicial circuit competitions to determine which team will represent its circuit in the state finals.

The competing mock trial teams consist of six to eight students who put all of their time and energy into the competition case. Acting as lawyers and witnesses, the students must prepare for trial and present the case as both the prosecution and defense. The team members, their teacher coach, and attorney coaches don't even bat an eye at the idea of spending countless hours on the case. In fact, they seem to love it!

The teams that compete come from many different backgrounds. For example, there is only one high school in Baker County, and each year this small Baker County High School sends a team to the state finals. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Dade County has a district competition almost as big as the state finals. Is there any difference in the quality of the teams? Not really. Schools from smaller districts have just as good a chance of winning as schools from highly populated areas. This past year, Leon High School from Leon County competed against only one other team at the district level and took home the first place trophy at the state finals.

Benefits to the Students

The mock trial program is not just about winning. The program teaches the students about the legal system and the ability to think on their feet. Once the students begin the trial, they are completely on their own to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. Students who participate not only walk away with a greater knowledge of the legal system and courts but also gain public speaking skills. Shandelia Peters, a student from Pinellas Park High School, stated, "I have learned so much even though we did not make it to the finals. I gave it my best and I have no regrets. I gave it all I had to give and that was all it took to feel like a winner."

The student remarks regarding the program are always incredible. One student reports that she now has more respect for lawyers and judges; another felt that the program showed the true professionalism that is required in court. What a perfect illustration of Florida Bar President Edith Osman's goal of promoting professionalism. Other students have commented that the competition gave them more confidence and helped with speaking in public. One student wrote that the mock trial program "prepared me for complicated situations and helped me overcome my shyness."

Increasing Minority Interest in the Legal Profession

The mock trial program sparks an interest in many students to pursue a career in law. One student stated, "I really feel this program dramatically influenced my aspiration to further explore this career." The Florida Education Fund is an organization that is helping that dream become a reality for minority students. The Minority Participation in Legal Education Program offers scholarships for high school students interested in studying prelaw at a public or private university. The students receive many benefits as MPLE prelaw scholars. Students are reimbursed up to $350 each semester for expenditures made for books and supplies. The program covers up to $800 for the LSAT preparation course when scholars are in their junior or senior year of college. If a student attends a public university, MPLE pays the full amount for tuition, fees, and room and board, less the amount of any other scholarships or grants. For private university students, $6,700 is awarded for tuition, fees, and room and board expenses. Scholarships are renewable for each undergraduate year so long as the students maintain full-time enrollment and attain the required grade point averages.

Lyra Logan, vice president of the Florida Education Fund, is responsible for finding talented, hardworking, and dedicated students who are interested in studying law. Thirteen students who were involved with the high school mock trial program or law studies at their schools were selected last year for the prelaw scholarship. Programs such as Florida's MPLE provide windows of opportunities for young people with a desire to study law.

Partnerships Between Legal and Educational Communities

Support from attorneys and judges is essential to the high school mock trial program. Attorneys and judges are needed at the district and circuit competitions as well as the state finals. At the state finals, over 150 volunteers from the legal community donate their time each year. They serve as judges during the three days of trials. At the end of each round, the judges give critiques and helpful advice to the students. "They treated us as though we were real lawyers in a criminal case," stated one appreciative student from last year's competition. One judge was so impressed that he "would periodically forget that these students were in high school and not in law school."

Evaluations were distributed to the volunteers who judged the 1999 state finals. Of those returned, 100 percent said they enjoyed participating in the competition and an overwhelming 100 percent stated they would like to participate in the next competition. Judges described the competition in one-word phrases such as "educational," "energizing," "worthwhile," and "inspiring."

At the 1999 Florida Bar Annual Meeting, Leandra Johnson was honored for her commitment to law-related education and to the mock trial program, and was selected as the "law-related education attorney of the year." Johnson, who has been the attorney coach with Columbia County High School for several years, has won the hearts of several students, not only from her infectious smile but also from her willingness to help anytime she is needed.

Leandra Johnson has an amazing effect on students. Suwana Jean, a senior at Columbia High, met Leandra in the fourth grade and from that day has wanted to be just like her. Eight years later, Leandra still works with Suwana, who received the prelaw scholarship from MPLE because of her participation in mock trial. Suwana states that Leandra Johnson "passed on her passion for law and justice and her love of the courtroom."