Program Summary

The Legal Professions Program is designed to provide general insights into legal careers from law enforcement to legal practice to corrections, with an emphasis on the criminal justice system.

Students also learn by participating in various unique opportunities. Two of the most unique programs are the Assigned Counsel and Law Enforcement Practical programs. The former is designed for students to ahndle real misdemeanor cases in City Court. Students interview clients, conduct investigations, prepare and serve discovery and motion papers, and lead dicussion with assistant district attorneys as well as judges. This work, while usual for third-year law school students, is highly unusual for high school seniors.

The latter program is designed to test students' knowledge of various law enforcement techniques normally taught to police recruits in their academy training. Students participate in the areas of handcuffing, defensive tactics, use of force, vehicle traffic stops and searches, motor vehicle accident investigation, and crime scene searches and collection. Each area is lectured and students then go through typical academy grading standards to evaluate the specific skill. This is typical of recruits with a minimum of two years college experience, the current minimum standard of many law enforcement agencies.

Volunteerism and community service go hand in hand with being a good citizen. Students are therefore required to perform community service with an approved program. This is tied in with the students' Government class. Students research and choose an approved service organization. They volunteer with this organization each month, and many times tie in their volunteer work with a public policy initiative.
Students are introduced to the skills and responsibilities associated with these areas. During the course of the year, students will:

  • Learn about investigations and evidence-gathering techniques from current law enforcement officers, and apply them to mock scenes involving traffic stops, motor vehicle searches, motor vehicle accidents, and major crimes.

  • Research and argue landmark and current legal issues in first and appellate level court situations.

  • Participate in the William Seward Model Senate Program, where they will research, develop, and argue a proposed bill.

  • Observe the environment and interact with current practitioners through field trips to different courts, correctional facilities, and law enforcement departments.

  • Learn the political, social and business implications of a budget process, and apply that knowledge to the economics of a family, a business, and various government entities. Students will also learn about investments and savings, and how preparation in those areas can affect their future.

  • Analyze fact situations in depth and be able to organize and argue points-of view both verbally and in writing.

  • Interact with guest lecturers from federal and state law enforcement agencies, judges, lawyers, correction officers, and parole officers.
    • The Legal Professions Program is designed to provide insights into the legal system in general, with particular emphasis on the criminal side. The duties of all three branches of government in the system will be examined.

    The economics of government and especially the funding of law enforcement will be discussed and observed.

    Citizen/government relationship as it relates to law enforcement from the points of view of criminal, society and victim will be analyzed.

    At the conclusion of the course, students will be expected to analyze fact situations in depth and be able to cogently organize and argue a point-of-view in writing.