About
The Courtroom is the Classroom
July 11, 2023All rise! More than 120 students from high schools across Long Island will be learning from federal judges, an FBI agent, a U.S. Secret Service agent, law professors, federal prosecutors, and criminal defense lawyers about their respective roles in the federal court system in a special program called The Justice Institute, being held July 10-14 at the Alfonse M. D’Amato U.S. Courthouse in Central Islip, NY.
The Justice Institute is designed to introduce high school students to the workings of the federal courts and the criminal justice system, and to promote an enlightened and responsible citizenry. The program consists of several components that allow the students to learn about the legal system and develop basic advocacy skills in a fun and interesting format. Students will be learning about the courts and the justice system as well as some particularly relevant areas of criminal law. Additionally, they will be taught basic advocacy skills in multiple sessions by experienced lawyers and will be coached by Touro Law students for a mock trial competition to be held at the end of the weeklong program.
The program is led by the Honorable Joseph F. Bianco, United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit and is part of The Honorable Robert A. Katzmann Justice for All: Courts and Community Initiative. Justice For All, the civic education project of the federal courts of the Second Circuit. The Justice Institute is sponsored by the Eastern District of New York (“EDNY”) and the EDNY Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, in partnership with the Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center.
Touro Law Associate Dean for Experiential Learning and Special Programs Myra Berman stated, “We are happy to be a partner in this unique program that exposes various aspects of the law and legal careers to high school students. Our students play an important role not only by preparing the high school students for the mock trial and imparting skills and knowledge while demonstrating an excellent work ethic and commitment to their community, but also by becoming mentors to the students on their teams. The program is invaluable to all who participate.”
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Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center is located adjacent to both a state and a federal courthouse in Central Islip, New York. Touro Law’s proximity to the courthouses, coupled with programming developed to integrate the courtroom into the classroom, provide a one-of-a kind learning experience for law students, combining a rigorous curriculum taught by expert faculty with a practical courtroom experience. Touro Law is dedicated to providing hands-on learning that enables students to gain experience while offering much-needed legal services in the community.
Touro Law, which has an alumni base of more than 6,500, offers full- and part-time JD programs where students can earn a degree in 2, 3 or 4 years and provides four areas of concentration Additionally, Touro offers a hybrid, four-year FlexTime JD Program combining online and on campus learning. Touro Law offers several dual degree programs and graduate law programs for US and foreign law graduates. Touro Law Center is part of Touro University.
Touro University
Touro University is a system of non-profit institutions of higher and professional education chartered in 1970. Touro was founded primarily to enrich the Jewish heritage and to serve the larger American and global community. Approximately 19,000 students are currently enrolled at Touro University’s various schools and divisions, which encompass 35 campuses and locations in New York, California, Nevada, Illinois, Berlin, Jerusalem and Moscow. New York Medical College; Touro University California and Touro University Nevada; Touro University Worldwide and its Touro College Los Angeles division; as well as Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois are separately accredited institutions within the Touro University system. For more information, visit www.touro.edu.
Patti Desrochers
Director of Communications
pattid@tourolaw.edu
(631) 761-7062