Try your case as a lawyer in a courtroom
Do you have the power to persuade? Do you want to put the guilty behind bars or save the innocent from injustice? At the National Student Leadership Conference’s high school summer law program, the courtroom becomes your classroom as you assume the role of trial attorney and battle for justice.
Explore this program:
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Interactive Career Simulations
The NSLC’s high school summer law program uses an interactive approach to learning that gives you an opportunity to immerse yourself in the challenging complexities of the judicial process. You and your team will prepare and try a case in a real courtroom. You will research the evidence, prepare your witnesses, craft your arguments and ultimately present your case before a judge. Your performance will determine the fate of the accused.
Meet Law Professionals
While at the NSLC, you will meet with and learn from leaders in the legal community. In past years, NSLC students have heard from special guest speakers including Supreme Court Justices, Attorneys General and accomplished trial attorneys.
- Justice David Souter, U.S. Supreme Court
- Professor Joe Daly, Professor and drafter of the Vietnam Constitution
- Judge Reggie Walton, US District Judge, District of Columbia District Courts.
- Mr. Mike Lakey, Partner, Mayer Brown LLP
A Day in Court and at the U.S. District Attorney's Office
Students attending our Law & Advocacy program at American University have the unique opportunity to spend the day at the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. Student will also have the opportunity to review past cases with attorneys and other law officials at the U.S. District Attorney’s office.
College-Level Curriculum
At the NSLC high school summer law program, you will enjoy college-level lectures from practicing attorneys on the fundamentals of trial preparation and courtroom techniques. The lecture series will give you a foundation of knowledge vital for success not only during the conference but also in your future career as a practicing attorney.
Topics include:
- Homicide Laws
- Witness Preparation
- Opening Statements
- Direct Examination
- Evidentiary Procedure and Cross-Examination
Leadership Workshops
At the heart of the NSLC is a leadership curriculum designed to build concrete leadership skills that will help you succeed. From the beginning of your program you will learn to work as a team during an exciting Ropes Challenge Course. Interactive lectures and small-group workshops will give you an opportunity to build upon your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.
Leadership topics tailored to the Law & Advocacy program include:
- Personality Styles and Group Dynamics
- Conflict Resolution
- Negotiation
- Public Speaking
- Stress & Time Management
Trips & Tours
An important part of the NSLC’s high school summer law program is seeing the sites around some of our nation’s greatest cities. These trips are designed as both sightseeing tours and exclusive educational trips specifically tailored to the area of Law:
Washington, D.C.
- The Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court
- U.S. Federal Courthouse
- Historic D.C. Monuments at Night
- The Smithsonian Institution
- The Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Baltimore Harbor
Sample Schedule
Day 1
- Registration
- Welcome Barbeque
- Opening Ceremonies
- TA Group/Trial Section Orientation
Day 2
- Ropes Challenge Course
- Leadership Series: Personality Matrix
- Lecture: An Overview/The Laws of Homicide
- Trial Section: Understanding the Law
- Ice Cream Social
Day 3
- AU Credit Option Meeting
- Lecture: Theme of the Case
- Leadership Series: Public Speaking
- Visit Historic Georgetown
- Lecture: Federal Rules of Evidence and Evidentiary Procedure
- Trial Section
- Social: Movie Night
Day 4
- Lecture: Opening Statements
- Guest Speaker: Ethics and the Law
- Trial Section
- TA Presentation: Mock Trial 101
Day 5
- Lecture: Direct and Cross Examinations
- Trial Section: Witness Preparation
- Leadership Series: Negotiation
- Washington at Night Tour
- Jefferson Memorial
- FDR Memorial
- Lincoln Memorial
- Vietnam War and Korean War Memorials
- Iwo Jima Memorial
Day 6
- AU Credit Option
- Field Trip: Capitol Hill and Smithsonian Institution
- Congressional Visits
- Library of Congress
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Air and Space Museum
- National Gallery of Art
- American History Museum
- And many more
- Leadership Series: Interpersonal Communication
- TA Presentation: Witness Preparation
Day 7
- Guest Speaker
- Field Trip: International Spy Museum
- Picnic Lunch at Lafayette Park
- Trial Section: Objection Drills
- Lecture: Closing Arguments
- Social: Pizza Night
Day 8
- Strategy Sessions: Defense and Prosecution
- Leadership Series: Stress and Time Management
- Guest Speaker
- Trial Section: Scrimmaging
- Field Trip: Baltimore Harbor
Day 9
- AU Credit Option
- Law School Visit and Guest Speaker
- TA Presentation: College Life Panel
- Mock Trials: US Federal Courthouse
Day 10
- Leadership Series: What I Discovered
- Graduation Ceremony
- Final Trial Section Meetings
