News
Law Academy Hosts Mock Trial Summer Camp
The GJHS Academy of Legal Studies held a mock trial camp this summer. The students were 9th or 10th graders this
school year and many were interested in learning more about the legal field. Campers were assigned a case and they
learned how to prepare and present a court trial.
During the camp, students took on roles as attorneys and witnesses. Learning included trial and court procedure,
opening statements, direct examination, cross examination, the closing argument and professionalism. The culminating
event was a full trial held in a courtroom housed at the school. The camp had visitors and guests from the Lakeland Bar
Association and the legal community. Instructors included upperclassmen in George Jenkins High’s Academy of Legal Studies
and members of the school’s mock trial team. The camp was funded in part by a $2,500 grant from the AT&T Success program.
The Jenkins Academy of Legal Studies is a program in which students take law classes in addition to their regular
curriculum. The academy is part of Florida’s A++ education legislation requiring high schools to launch career and
professional academies to expose students to careers in high wage, high skill and high demand fields. The Legal Studies
Academy in¬cludes a classroom remodeled into a courtroom and furnished with a judge’s bench, clerk and witness stands,
lawyer’s desks and a jury box. The courtroom also has sophisticated audio and multi-media capability for testimony and
evidence presen¬tation. The courtroom was used for the first time in the 2008-2009 school year. A $23,000 Florida
SUCCEED! grant was used to remodel a classroom into a courtroom. SUCCEED! grants were designed by the state to expand or
create instruc¬tional programs in professions deemed crucial.
Law Academy Students Make Appearance At Florida Supreme Court
Three students from the Academy of Legal Studies at George Jenkins High School recently traveled to Tallahassee to make
an appearance at the Florida Supreme Court. Jessica Lamb, Karan Issar, and Alexis Gonzalez took part in the Florida Youth
in Government (YIG) annual trip to the State Capital. Their “law firm” presented two appeals in the YIG judicial
competition. The team of Alexis Gonzalez and Karan Issar were successful in the preliminaries and went on to the State
final, held in the Florida Supreme Court courtroom. These first-time 10th grade students won their appeal. Both students
described their experience as “life changing.”
Jessica Lamb had the honor of being chosen as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. She presided over three appeals,
gaining valuable experience to bring back to the Academy where she holds the position of chief judge.
The next challenge for these three students will be the State Mock Trial Competition held in Orlando in late March.
