By Kate Strickland/Winter 2025 Columbus Bar Lawyers Quarterly
The Ohio Center for Law-Related Education (OCLRE) is a civic education nonprofit that provides Ohio’s students and teachers with exciting academic programs and resources to engage students in learning about government, law, and the importance of active citizenship. OCLRE has been providing hands-on learning opportunities since 1983, empowered by the many volunteers who give their time to provide authentic learning experiences for students. Today, with participation of teachers and students from more than 70 Ohio counties, and more than 1,500 volunteers annually, OCLRE is among the largest state law-related education programs in the United States.
The OCLRE founders strongly believed partnerships between the educational and legal communities could effectively enlighten students about their constitutional rights and responsibilities. Over the years, this work has taken on various forms as new programs have emerged, but volunteers from the legal community have been a constant, grounding presence. Whether it is brainstorming and writing new Mock Trial cases or serving as a Moot Court judge evaluating student performance during oral arguments, volunteers are an integral part of OCLRE.
As OCLRE has evolved, so has our understanding of how to create the best learning experience for Ohio students. We have been making a concerted effort to ensure that our volunteer base is representative of our students not only in demographic, but also in their interests beyond the classroom. The legal community has many rewarding opportunities for students both in and out of the courtroom. When students see this diversity reflected in our volunteers, they can more clearly see themselves in the future, active in a career they may have otherwise been unaware of.
OCLRE has also heard from volunteers directly about how rewarding it is to support its programs, both behind the scenes and by working with students as a judge for our events. Creating exciting and cutting-edge cases for our Moot Court and Mock Trial programs provides volunteers with a creative outlet that allows them to explore a different side of the law than they interact with on a regular basis. It is especially rewarding to work on a case and then see it come to life while serving as a judge. Returning volunteers have even had the unique opportunity to see students, and sometimes family members, grow in confidence and skill over the years from their first performance as a middle schooler or freshman to their final performance as a high school senior.
Volunteering for the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education can take on many forms. Below are the various ways to become involved.
During simulated congressional hearings, students play the role of experts testifying before Congress about our Constitution and critical issues in modern politics. Volunteer judges play the role of legislators questioning students to evaluate their knowledge of the topic being presented.
Students participate in an unscripted, simulated trial based on an original case. High school cases focus on constitutional issues while middle school cases are based on popular middle school level books. Students take on the roles of attorneys, witnesses, bailiffs, and timekeepers.
High school students take on the role of attorneys at the appellate level, submitting written briefs and presenting oral arguments before a panel of judges. The cases involve U.S. Constitutional issues.
Join a Committee
Committees for several programs meet in the spring/summer to begin writing the case files students will use. Members of these committees flex their creative muscles by bringing current legal topics to life for students.
Returning volunteers may sign up by completing the OCLRE volunteer form here.
If you are interested in volunteering with OCLRE for the first time, please visit http://www.oclre.org/volunteer.