Royal Palm Beach High Partners with Local Law Firm to Celebrate Florida Law Week

To promote understanding of the law and United States court system, during The Florida Bar’s established Law Week that ran from April 30-May 4, 2012.  Royal Palm Beach High School recently held a Mock Trial at the Historic Court House in Palm Beach County.  To present the mock trial, the school’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter and the International Law and Finance class formed the school’s first Mock Trial team.

To achieve their educational mission, the attorneys at The Law Firm of Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith, PLLC, (www.lesserlawfirm.com), who have long been committed to public service through the Firm’s 85-year legal legacy in Palm Beach County, sponsored Royal Palm Beach High School’s first Mock Trial team by providing funding, scholarships, and support for the new team.

During the Mock Trial, students played all the roles in the court room, including those of judge, attorneys, clients, jurors, and bailiffs. Students were assigned a fictitious case and then posed appropriate legal arguments for their respective clients.  They had 45 minutes to begin the proceeding, call witnesses, make arguments and deliberate – an impressive feat for even seasoned attorneys.  At the conclusion of the trial, attorneys from the Palm Beach Bar Association critiqued their performance and gave the students feedback. 

“We always like to encourage and support awareness and education about the legal system,” said Gary Lesser, the Firm’s Managing Partner who serves on The Florida Bar Board of Governors. “We are pleased and proud we could  underwrite and participate in a ‘first’ at Royal Palm Beach High’s with the formation of the school’s inaugural Mock Trial team, as we know first-hand that students learn, grow and are inspired from this type of mock trial experience.”

The Royal Palm Beach High School students competed well in the newly restored historic court room, and then received a tour of the Palm Beach Historical Society Museum.  At the conclusion of the mock trial, they were also provided the opportunity to participate in a question and answer session with attorneys and gain more information about actual court procedures.   Afterward, the students walked across the street for a visit to the current court house. 

“The general consensus among students was that it was a great experience and they had a new found respect for the legal system,” noted Tiffany Owen, teacher of Royal Palm Beach High School. “This kind of positive courtroom exposure is critical to students because it gives them a greater appreciation of the fundamental principles of law. It also gives the student a great opportunity to interact and get feedback from respected local attorneys.” 

Owen added that following this “real-style” learning experience, the students are already looking forward to next year’s competition and 2013 Law Week. 

For more information contact Tiffany Taylor at (561) 753-4000 or via email at tiffany.taylor@palmbeachschools.org.  

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 Public Affairs Contact: Natalia Arenas – (561) 357-7662 – natalia.arenas@palmbeachschools.org