Educational Programs

 

Constitution Day 2010

This is a statewide program.

Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787. This year Constitution Day will be celebrated in schools across the country during the week of Sept. 13-17. In New Mexico, the State Bar’s Public and Legal Services Department is coordinating activities with schools by supplying pocket-sized booklets of the Constitution, lesson plans, and visits by volunteer attorneys and judges statewide. In 2009, attorneys/judges and teachers were partnered to lead discussions on freedom and liberty to over 6,300 students in 98 schools around the state. Over 150 attorneys volunteered their time, and more contributed to the program by donating money to cover the cost of classroom materials.

For more information, call Marilyn Kelley at 505-797-6048, or email mkelley@nmbar.org

 

Attorneys Sign Up Here : 2010 Attorney Sign Up

Teachers Sign Up Here: 2010 Teacher Sign Up with Cover Letter

 

Law Day 2010
Dialogue in the Classroom

 

It’s that time of year again! The State Bar’s Public & Legal Education Commission, along with the American Bar Association (ABA), is offering a Dialogue on ”Law in the 21st Century: Enduring Traditions, Emerging Challenges” to high school students.

The American Bar Association indicates “…[T]he law is changing dramatically…economic markets are becoming global, transactions require cultural adaptation and understanding, populations are more mobile, and communication technologies such as the Internet bridge distances and time zones to form new communities”. “Law Day 2010 provides us with an opportunity to understand and appreciate the emerging challenges and enduring traditions of law in the 21st century”.

The Dialogue is being offered during the week of May 3, 2010 – May 7, 2010. The program usually lasts between 45 minutes to an hour. The State Bar will contact judges and/or attorneys in your area and arrange for them to go to your classroom and assist with the dialogue. All materials are supplied to the judges, attorneys and the teachers.

If you are interested in participating, please complete a Registration Form in full (see link below), and return at the earliest convenience, to organize volunteer attorney/ judges for each classroom. Registration deadline is April 16, 2010.

If you have any questions, contact Marilyn Kelley at (505) 797-6048, or mkelley@nmbar.org or fax this form to (505) 797-6074 (ATT: Marilyn).

Teachers sign up form 2010 Teacher MEMO sign up-letterhead
Attorney sign up form Bar Bulletin-Attorney Volunteers needed

 

2009 Constitution Day

Thanks to all the Constitution Day volunteer attorneys.

NM State Attorney General Gary K. King teaches 5th graders at Governor Bent Elementary School in Albuquerque.

Governor Bent Elementary School 5th graders present King with their drawings of Constitution themes.

King spent 20 minutes signing students' Liberty Day booklets.

Assistant U.S Attorney Alfred J. Perez worked with with Doris Garcia's students at Booker T. Washington Elementary School in Las Cruces.

Students at Governor Bent Elementary read the Liberty Day booklets given to 5th graders by the State Bar.

William J. Perkins leads students in a discussion of the Constitution at Harrison Schmitt Elementary School in Silver City.

Alex Russell teaches students at Puesta del Sol Elementary School in Rio Rancho.

Steven Chavez signs copies of the Constitution at Raymond Gabaldon Elementary School in Los Lunas.

 

Classroom Law Project ...

is a partnership program of the New Mexico State Bar Foundation's Public & Legal Services Department and the Center for Civic Values.  We need volunteer attorneys for the partnership program.  Volunteer lawyers are partnered with classroom teachers to meet the following goals:

• to promote students' recognition of the impact of the law in their daily lives;
• to increase students' awareness of their rights and responsibilities as citizens; and,
• to expand students' knowledge and appreciation of the legal system of the United States.

Lawyers collaborate with teachers to make presentations at the grade level and school they have chosen to volunteer. 

For more information call (505) 797-6005.

Annual High School Essay Contest

The Public Legal Education Committee sponsors an annual high school essay contest each year in conjunction with Law Day.

Know the Law

An exciting program informs New Mexico high school students, who are about to make adult decisions, about their new responsibilities and liabilities.

 

Junior Judges

This program is designed to teach grade school students about potential consequences of bad behavior and making decisions in difficult peer situations. Topics include stealing, bullying, cheating, drugs and alcohol, and gangs and weapons. The State Bar Young Lawyers Division coordinates the program.

Schools that would like to participate in the program or attorneys who would like to volunteer should contact YLD Chair Martha Chicoski, mary.martha.chicoski@farmers.com or (505) 248-3504.

Law Day Call-In

State Bar of New Mexico - Call-In Programs