01/16/2025

Volunteer With The Ohio Center for Law-Related Education

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.

• We the People (High School & Middle School) 

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.  

• Judge – Each hearing has a panel of 2-3 judges to evaluate student performance and ask follow-up questions about an assigned topic. 

• Facilitate – Several facilitators are needed to direct judges, keep hearings running on time, and collect scoresheets.
  • Facilitators must be 18 years or older and must be able to navigate between rooms/floors of the Ohio Statehouse.  

• Mock Trial (High School & Middle School) 

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.  

• Judge – Each trial is evaluated by a judging panel (one presiding judge and 1 or 2 scoring judges). 

• Presiding Judges – Preside over the trial and rule on objections while also evaluating student performance. Presiding judges must have a JD; familiarity with Mock Trial or trial advocacy is preferred. 

• Scoring Judges – Observe the trial and evaluate student performance. Anyone with a background in the legal community and/or significant Mock Trial experience is eligible to be a scoring judge. 

• Facilitate (High School Only) – Several facilitators are needed to check courtrooms for appropriate set-up, keep trials running on time, and collect scoresheets.
  • Facilitators must be 18 years or older and must be able to navigate between floors of the Franklin County Courthouse.  

• Moot Court (High School Only) 

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. 

• Oral Arguments – Each hearing has a panel of 2-3 judges who act as appellate court judges, questioning student attorneys while evaluating and scoring student performance in oral arguments. 

• Briefs – Each Moot Court team submits one brief, writing for either the petitioner or respondent. Evaluators read and score several briefs using a virtual scoresheet. Brief evaluation is done remotely in advance of oral arguments.  

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. 

• High School Mock Trial
  • This committee consists of volunteers who brainstorm ideas for a new High School Mock Trial case each year. Cases must be based on a constitutional issue and must be appropriate for a trial setting.  

• Middle School Mock Trial
  • This committee consists of volunteers who brainstorm case ideas based on popular middle school level books. Cases must focus on actual events from the book, only elaborating on details or characters when necessary.  

• Moot Court
  • This committee consists of volunteers who brainstorm ideas for a new High School Moot Court case each year. Cases must be based on a constitutional issue and will follow the appellate process, which will culminate in students presenting oral arguments before the Supreme Court.  

 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.