Overview of Law Related Education:
The South Carolina Bar Law Related Education (LRE) Division 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. 

Current Highlights:

New - 2012 SC Supreme Court Institute Open for Registration
The SC Supreme Court Institute focuses on the SC Supreme Court and the branches of government. Attendees will learn how to bring South Carolina courts and the law to life for their students while interacting with educators, attorneys, judges, and Supreme Court Justices. Teachers will gain new interactive tools with which to teach students about the Court. This Institute will include a visit to the SC Supreme Court to hear oral arguments and an opportunity to speak with the justices afterward! A meet and greet with Chief Justice Jean H. Toal and fellow justices will be included with the Institute. The five day Institute will also include panel discussions with judges representing various courts, a technology component working with various Web site resources, and an opportunity to build lesson plans to bring back to the classroom. The Institute will require some preparation work each evening.

A special addition to the 2012 SC Supreme Court Institute includes a session on iCivics (www.iCivics.org), which is a web-based education project designed to enhance civics education of middle and high school students. Through iCivics, students are inspired to be active participants in our democracy. iCivics has games, lesson plans, and classroom handouts specific to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the three branches of government, persuasive writing and citizenship/participation at absolutely no cost to the students or to educators.

The SC Supreme Court Institute is for social studies teachers, U.S. government/history teachers and school resource officers. The Institute is limited to 20 participants that have not previously participated in SC Supreme Court Institute.  The Institute includes FREE curriculum, lunches, and lodging for attendees traveling outside of a 40 mile radius from Columbia.

The registration deadline is May 25, 2012. (A working e-mail address that is checked often is needed for registration. Confirmation letters will be e-mailed. All attendees are required to confirm their attendance upon receipt of a training confirmation notification e-mail. Walk-ins will not be accepted. Spaces are limited. Apply early!)  Click Here to register!

New - Middle School Mock Trial Skills Workshop August 25, 2012 - Columbia
The South Carolina Bar’s Law Related Education Division is sponsoring a Middle School Mock Trial Skills Workshop to be held on Saturday, August 25, 2012!  This year’s workshop plans to include general sessions and breakout sessions for the beginner Mock Trial students and the experienced Mock Trial students. It is planned for students to have an opportunity to work with affidavits; role play; analyze video segments; examine rules of evidence; learning courtroom layout and etiquette, making and handling objections; review openings, closings, directs and crosses; and get Mock Trial tips.  The goal for all in attendance is to gain Mock Trial experiences and skills in a fun learning environment.  Teacher and attorney coaches will be able to accompany their students throughout the day.  Click here for more information and to apply!

New - Mock Trial Committee Chairs Featured on Speaking of Schools Podcast
LRE Mock Trial Committee Chairs Andrew Cole and Roy Shelley were recently featured on the Speaking of Schools Podcast with SCETV.  Click here for the podcast about the High School Mock Trial Program. 

2012 Training Catalog
LRE is pleased to announce the release of the 2012 training catalog.  Download the 2012 Training Catalog for free.  Register early, as classes fill up fast!

Law for Young Adults 
Turning 18 is an important milestone in a young person’s life. With that comes many exciting opportunities and responsibilities from voting, renting an apartment, opening a credit card, buying a car, etc. and all without a parent’s consent. Youth turning 18 will be making important decisions about their lives and at the same time need to be careful as there can be long-term consequences to many decisions.

This new transition of turning 18 comes with many new responsibilities. Turning 18 means someone becomes legally an adult, and although they may, their parents no longer have to support them. At age 18, an individual may be responsible for paying their own income taxes and can even be sued. Also at age 18, if a crime is committed, that individual will not have the protection of the juvenile court; the stakes are higher and the consequence could be jail time.

As 18 year olds face important decisions in the weeks and months to come, from moving out, to establishing a bank account and credit history, to working and voting, an electronic resource was developed to provide some guidance on the new responsibilities and consequences that apply to 18 year olds. Keep in mind that laws are constantly subject to change, and if you have a specific legal problem, you may want to consult an attorney.  Click here to go to the new Law for Young Adults page that has over 30 topics!

Funding Provided By:
 

The South Carolina Bar Law Related Education (LRE) Division is supported by an IOLTA grant from the South Carolina Bar Foundation.  For further information, please visit www.scbarfoundation.org.