High school students invited to apply for free Summer Law & Trial Institute at Ohio University, June 13-21

High school students from Southeastern Ohio can apply now for the free Summer Law & Trial Institute offered virtually by Ohio University from June 13-21, 2021.

Preference will be given to rising high school juniors and seniors from Southeastern Ohio, though students from outside the region can also apply.

Students accepted into the program will explore law and the American legal system. They will learn about a variety of legal careers, as well as meet dozens of Ohio University alumni who will discuss their roles as attorneys, judges and advocates.

“I know some people say something changed their life,” says Lori Turner, who participated in the 2016 institute and is currently a political science major at Ohio University. “I really wouldn’t be here without that institute because I had nothing. Nothing got me out of bed but being able to come here and find that there is something out there for me, gave me a purpose.”

Virtual experiences during the institute will include:

• Watching a Supreme Court of Ohio oral argument;
• A virtual visit to the Athens County Court of Common Pleas;
• A virtual visit with non-governmental organizations, such as Southeastern Ohio Legal Services, American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, and others;
• Meeting and interacting with attorneys and judges;
• Litigating a mock trial in a virtual courtroom.

The deadline to apply is May 21. Applicants are accepted on a rolling basis, so applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as admission is competitive.

The virtual Summer Law & Trial Institute aims to increase understanding of the law and its possibilities among Ohio high school students. The program also seeks to foster an interest in all aspects of legal education, service, and issues, and to create the next generation of legal, advocacy, and community professionals.

The institute was founded in 2016 by Ohio University alumnus Larry Hayman, Esq, pre-law advisor at the Center for Law, Justice & Culture. Hayman joined the law center in 2014 after eight years of practicing law. He earned a B.A. in Political Science and graduated magna cum laude from the College of Arts & Sciences at Ohio University in 2003. He received his Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, graduating in the top 10 percent of his class, and is licensed to practice law in Ohio and in U.S. District Court.

The free program is made possible by generous alumni support.

To learn more and apply online, visit here.