For more information on the Law Day in the Schools Program and how to get involved, please contact Katie D'Angelo, Public Service Programs Coordinator at 617-778-1914 or kdangelo@bostonbar.org.
“I look forward to participating in the Law Day in the schools program every year. It is amazing to me how in just a short hour, the students can go from, "I'm not really sure that I want to partake in this exercise" to becoming full-fledged advocates for their client! Many of these students have never interacted with lawyers before and have never even considered law as a career option so programs like this one plant a seed in their head that there are other possibilities outside of what they already know.”
– Thuy Wagner, Labor and Employment Counsel, Boston Medical Center.
Don’t miss your opportunity this spring to join lawyers and judges from all over the city to visit classes across the Boston Public School system as part of Law Day. Last year, over 400 students were inspired from the BBA Program, many who wrote us saying they wanted to be lawyers after meeting our volunteers. It is a great way for BBA members to engage with Boston Public School students and share their passion for the law.
By participating in Law Day you will work with students directly. In the past, BBA volunteers have helped elementary school students develop a hypothetical Constitution for their classroom, guided high school students through a mock trial and explored Constitutional issues. There is a new theme and curriculum developed each year to expand the legal ideas we bring to the students.
Here is what some of our volunteers have to say about their experience:
- I was incredibly proud of the students I worked with and felt inspired by their arguments, enthusiasm, and thoughts on protecting civil liberties. It was also nice to debrief the issues at the end of class and talk about what it means to be a lawyer. I would recommend Law Day in the Schools to all attorneys who feel passionate about the law and would want to share that passion with young students. –Anita Sharma, Asylum Attorney, PAIR Project
- "There was one young woman in particular who mentioned she had thought about becoming a lawyer before our discussion period began. Once we started the exercise I could see the transformation in her from 'this is something I might want to do' into 'this is something I can do and enjoy.' The fun part of volunteering is when you can see the wheels starting to turn in the student's heads. It was a rewarding hour and a great way to spend a rainy Monday." --Marian Ryan, Assistant Middlesex District Attorney
Would you like to volunteer for the Law Day in the Schools Program? You only need to commit five hours of your time. Take your own classroom or be paired up with another lawyer. Students that participate in the Program range from first graders to high school seniors. The schools are located within the 21 different neighborhoods of Boston and draw a student population composed of diverse backgrounds. The BBA supplies all necessary materials and recommends appropriate activities.