Civics Education Committee

Ralph J. Monaco Memorial Civics Education Fund Fundraiser

From December 2025 through March 2026, the Connecticut Bar Association hosted a statewide high school mock trial competition that brought together students from across the state to demonstrate their advocacy skills, legal knowledge, and professionalism in the courtroom. Organized under the supervision of the Mock Trial Subcommittee of the CBA Civics Education Committee, the competition began in December with regional trials held in courthouses throughout Connecticut.

During the week of July 7, the Connecticut Bar Association (CBA) hosted its annual Law Camp in Hartford for a group of Connecticut high school students. Law Camp exposes high school students to the legal profession and teaches them critical and analytical thinking to help them succeed in their educational and professional careers.

The CBA Civics Education Committee held its annual Law Day Celebration at the Connecticut Appellate Court in Hartford on May 2. Law Day is a national celebration held annually to celebrate the role of law in our society and to help encourage a deeper understanding of the legal profession. The Law Day event also included the presentation of the 2025 Ralph J. Monaco Civics Education awards.

The Gruendel Fund at the Connecticut Bar Institute was endowed in 2023 by the Honorable F. Herbert Gruendel, his wife, Janice Gruendel, Ph.D., and their family and friends in honor of Judge Gruendel's outstanding career as an educator and jurist for the state of Connecticut.

During the week of July 8-12, the CBA hosted its first in-person LAW camp since 2019 in New Haven for a group of 36 Connecticut high school students. LAW Camp exposes high school students to the legal profession and teaches them critical and analytical thinking to help them succeed in their educational and professional careers.