Law Related Education

Law related education (LRE) is an amalgam of programs, curricula, training, presentations, and technical assistance provided through the Law Related Education (LRE) Division at the South Carolina Bar. LRE programs teach students about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. 

History

The South Carolina Bar Law Related Education (LRE) is a service arm of the Bar that, since the mid-1980s, has provided teachers, school resource officers, juvenile justice personnel and lawyers with resources, materials and technical assistance to teach law and citizenship education. LRE serves as a central source for civic education in South Carolina, providing free and low cost trainings for teachers and School Resource Officers to implement programs to include Community Works; Foundations of Democracy; Elementary, Middle, and High School Mock Trial, LawForKids.org; Law For Teachers; Street Law; We the People: Project Citizen; and We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution. LRE hosts culminating activities to include regional and state competitions for Mock Trial, Project Citizen; and We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution.

Understanding Law in a Democratic Society

LRE provides students with active learning opportunities that foster their understanding of the role of law in a democratic society. Students learn about laws, the legal system, and how both affect their lives. LRE also stresses the use of outside resource people and the application of LRE to real life situations. These programs increase critical thinking and problem solving skills; debating skills; respect for justice and authority; public speaking; self identity and confidence; what it means to be a participatory citizen; and so much more. Most LRE programs are available K-12.