On Apr. 16, students enrolled in East Rockaway Jr/Sr High School's Introduction to Legal Studies course made a field trip to the Nassau County Supreme Court in Mineola to see the real-life version of what they had been studying in class. 

The dual enrollment course, offered in partnership with Farmingdale State College and open to students in grades 10 through 12, gave participants an immersive look at how the American legal system operates beyond the classroom. The visit brought students face to face with sitting judges, practicing attorneys and the physical spaces where real cases are tried every day.

During the trip, students heard directly from a civil court judge and attorneys representing a range of legal specialties from civil law and criminal prosecution to matrimonial law. The lawyers spoke not only about their areas of practice, but about their own career journeys, sharing how they found their way into the legal profession

The students also got a thorough orientation to the courthouse itself. They toured the law library and got a look inside a holding cell, explored the different buildings that make up the Mineola court complex, and learned about the various roles that keep the court system running, from clerks and court officers to attorneys and judges. The jury selection process was explained in detail, giving students a clearer picture of how a trial comes together before it ever begins.

Perhaps most memorable part of the visit was the opportunity to observe two live pre-trial hearings, during which witnesses were questioned and a judge ruled on the merits of a pending lawsuit. For students who have spent the semester reading about legal concepts and constitutional frameworks, watching those same processes unfold in real time was a true learning experience.

Principal Richard Schaffer, who teaches the Introduction to Legal Studies course, said, “The tour served as a great connection to the work we are doing in class. We have already studied Constitutional and criminal law and will study torts, contracts and family law before the end of the semester. The students were able to see much of what we have discussed in class come to life. They found the stories the lawyers shared about their career journey to be especially engaging and powerful.