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WSBA and state courts roll out Lawyers in the Classroom to expand civics education
Summary
Washington State Bar Association and state court educators introduced 'Lawyers in the Classroom,' a volunteer program pairing legal professionals with K–12 teachers to teach civics and the rule of law; volunteers may record hours as pro bono service and sign-ups are coordinated through the Administrative Office of the Courts and WSBA.
Sunitha Angelvel, president of the Washington State Bar Association, introduced Lawyers in the Classroom at a WSBA online session, calling the program part of the WSBA’s rule of law ambassador work and urging lawyers to bring civic lessons into K–12 classrooms.
The program builds on an existing Judges in the Classroom model run by the Board for Judicial Administration’s Public Engagement and Education Committee and the Administrative Office of the Courts. Nicole Ack, senior court program analyst for the Administrative Office of the Courts, said the materials and lesson plans are available online and that volunteers can sign up by emailing her with “Lawyers in the Classroom” or “LITC” in the subject line. "Put lawyers in the classroom or LITC in the subject line," Ack said, explaining she will help match volunteers to teachers and act as a liaison.
Why it matters: WSBA leaders framed the program as an “upstream” effort to strengthen public understanding of the courts and the rule of law by exposing students to legal professionals. Angelvel said, "Every lawyer automatically becomes a rule of law ambassador…
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