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The Connecticut high school students who attended the 2024 LAW Camp gathered at the New Haven Federal Courthouse for the final round of the camp's mock trial competition.
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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.
During the weeklong camp, the students heard presentations and participated in activities with numerous Connecticut Bar Association member attorneys and judges who volunteered to participate in the camp. The camp’s events were held at the Elm City Club, New Haven Superior Courthouse, and New Haven U.S. District Courthouse as well as the New Haven offices of Shipman & Goodwin, Day Pitney, Halloran & Sage, Withers Berman, and Updike Kelly & Spellacy.
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Throughout the camp, the students attended several educational presentations led by Connecticut Bar Association members.
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On the first day of the camp, the attending students learned about the legal profession and heard from attorneys, law students, and career advisors on how to pursue and achieve a successful career in the law and the different communities and groups, such as bar associations, that support attorneys. They also learned about the Connecticut Court System and the processes and procedures involved in court proceedings.
Over the course of the next several days, the students participated in exercises related to conducting opening and closing statements and direct and cross-examinations; heard presentations on the specific roles of lawyers, judges, and the jury in court; and observed real court arraignments and criminal proceedings. The students were also split into groups to prepare for the camp’s culminating event, a two-round mock trial competition.
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Two teams of students presented arguments and examined and cross examined witnesses before Connecticut Chief Justice Richard A. Robinson during the mock trial's final round.
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Friday began with the mock trial competition’s preliminary round. The two winning groups of this round went on to present their arguments in the final round before Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard A Robinson inside the New Haven U.S. District Courthouse. Before determining a winner, Chief Justice Robinson congratulated all the students on their performance in the competition, stating “We’re trying to build pipelines and build future lawyers and future judges, and I really hope you all consider the legal profession. We could really use you. I promise you that you are all very, very good.” After announcing the winning team, Chief Justice Robinson recounted his own career path from law school all the way to being appointed as the state supreme court chief justice and answered questions from the students.
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Connecticut Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard A. Robinson answered questions from the students after announcing the winning team of the mock trial competitions final round.
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The week-long camp ended with a reception, where CBA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Co-Chair and Law Camp Chair Ronald J. Houde, Jr. presented each of the attending students and camp counselors with a certificate celebrating their participation in LAW Camp. “I absolutely loved [LAW Camp],” said one camper, Sandra. “I had a lot of fun and made many new friends. I learned so much about law and legal careers and gained so much knowledge. ... [T]his opportunity was an amazing one, and I am so lucky to have this experience.”
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CBA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Co-Chair and Law Camp Chair Ronald J. Houde, Jr. provided closing remarks for the camp and presented students and camp counselors with certificates celebrating their participation in LAW Camp.
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