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| The Connecticut high school students who attended the 2025 Law Camp gathered at the Connecticut Supreme Court for the final round of the camp's mock trial competition. |
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.
During the weeklong camp, the students heard presentations and participated in activities with numerous CBA member attorneys and judges who volunteered to participate. The camp’s events were held at the University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Law, the Hartford Superior Courthouse, the Connecticut Supreme Court, and the law offices of Pullman & Comley LLC, McCarter & English LLP, Reid & Reige PC, Day Pitney LLP, Shipman & Goodwin LLP, and Robinson & Cole LLP.
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| Throughout the camp, the students participated in several educational sessions led by Connecticut Bar Association members that taught them about court procedures and the roles of attorneys, judges, and juries. |
The week began with the campers arriving at UConn School of Law for a welcome breakfast and reception, where they heard remarks from CBA President Emily A. Gianquinto and UConn School of Law Dean Eboni S. Nelson. “Take advantage of the opportunities you will have this week to meet with practicing attorneys and judges and others who can provide you with insight on applying to and attending law school, being a lawyer, and serving in other roles in our legal system,” stated President Gianquinto. “We are all volunteering our time with this program because we know learning about our legal system is important. We know that you are important to ensuring that our legal system and the rule of law hold strong in the future.”
Throughout the first day of camp, the participating 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 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.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the students continued to learn about the different roles that lawyers, judges, and juries play in the courtroom; developing opening and closing statements; making effective use of documents and exhibits; and conducting direct and cross examinations. They were also split into six teams that began working with coaches to prepare for the camp’s mock trial competition.
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| During breakout sessions, six different teams of students prepared to compete in the camp's mock trial competition. |
On Thursday, the campers experienced the legal system firsthand during a visit to Hartford Superior Court. There, they observed a live jury trial and received lessons on the principles of advocacy and courtroom etiquette. Later in the day, each team visited one of several downtown law firms for lunch before engaging in a final round of mock trial preparation, receiving mentorship and feedback from practicing attorneys at the firms.
The week culminated on Friday with the mock trial competition, with preliminary rounds held at the Hartford Superior Court. Superior Court Judges Nuala Droney, Matthew Gordon, and Neeta Vatti volunteered to adjudicate the mock trial preliminary round and provide feedback to campers. The top two teams advanced to argue their case before Connecticut Appellate Court Judge Robin L. Wilson and CBA Civics Education Committee Co-Chair Jonathan Weiner at the Connecticut Supreme Court. Following the final round, Judge Wilson provided remarks to the campers, praising them for their professionalism and impressive work throughout the week. Prior to the end of camp, the students were able to enjoy refreshments and celebrate with a closing reception held at UConn School of Law.
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| In the final round of the mock trial competition two teams of campers argued their case before Connecticut Appellate Court Judge Robin L. Wilson and CBA Civics Education Committee Co-Chair Jonathan Weiner. |
Reflecting on the week, one of the campers, Yulisa Ma, remarked, “This is such an amazing opportunity … and I got to meet so many incredible peers and attorneys. This was so fun and so inspiring, definitely a highlight of my summer! I truly enjoyed every day of camp and learned so much throughout the experience. Additionally, one of the camp’s mock trial coaches, Aly Gallo, noted, “I had an absolutely amazing time at camp. I was beyond proud of my group for making it to the Finals - getting to conduct the trial in the Supreme Court with my campers was a truly unforgettable experience.”