Mr. Vukich and his 5th hour Law and Order class took a trip to the 37th District Court where they saw many criminal cases and arraignments. Now, the students are bringing the trial to the classroom. Acting out an actual court case, the students will be involved in a hands-on learning experience.
As an annual event, Mr. Vukich is doing what he calls a “mock trial” with his 5th hour Law and Order class. Students from his class volunteered for roles such as judges, attorneys, witnesses, and jury members, and Mr. Vukich will decide who plays what part. The same case is used for the mock trial every year.
“Even though we have done the same case for a while now, it is always new and exciting because different students will act out the parts differently from year to year,” Mr. Vukich, Law and Order teacher, said.
The trial procedure is very similar to that of a real trial. Going through the motions helps the students interact with their studies more thoroughly, while showing them what the court, and the law really entails.
“I think the students benefit [from the mock trial] in a couple ways; it gives them confidence to stand in front of their peers and take an educational risk. Public speaking isn’t easy and the mock trials can be very competitive. It is an authentic learning experience. This is something that can be useful to them in college or their careers,” Vukich said.
While the trial hasn’t happened yet, students are preparing for it within the next few weeks. Though the mock trial is pretty realistic, it is different from what most students would picture; especially based upon what students see on TV shows.
“TV sensationalizes the legal profession and makes it seem very exciting and fast paced. Most court cases take a long time to unfold and are more similar to watching a play at the theatre. Some people actually think real cases are pretty boring because there are so many rules and procedures to follow. TV makes every court case look like a spectacle or shouting match. Rarely does that happen in a real case,” Vukich said.
The mock trial benefits students in understanding what law really is about, but so does the Law and Order class itself.
“It gives them a practical understanding of the law. From knowing your constitutional rights to knowing what to say to a judge if you get it traffic ticket; it will prepare them for when their lives intersect with the law. Since we live in a society of laws, most students will benefit from knowing what they are, what the consequences are for not following, and how you can impact them.”
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