James D Stclair Court Public Education Project Boston Bar Fnd

The mock trial program, offered in the fall, is a ten-week, after-school experiential learning program which invites middle school students to become trial lawyers. With the support of legal mentors, students tackle age-appropriate legal issues, engage in legal analysis, and ultimately try cases in real courtrooms before federal or state judges and juries made up of community members. In fiscal year 2024, 302 students on 29 mock appeal teams participated from: boston, brockton, brookline, cambridge, framingham, lowell, medford, new bedford, springfield, waltham, west springfield, and worcester.

The mock appeal program, offered in the spring, transforms middle school students into appellate lawyers. Working after school with a team of volunteer attorneys for ten weeks, students delve into the bill of rights, explore how constitutional protections apply in public schools, and deliver their oral arguments in real courtrooms before appellate panels composed of judges and experienced attorneys. In fiscal year 2024, 379 students on 32 mock trial teams participated from: boston, brockton, brookline, cambridge, douglas, framingham, lowell, new bedford, pittsfield, springfield, west springfield, waltham, and worcester.