The Legal Academy
An 8-week civic leadership program bringing the courtroom into the classroom.
Target Audience
Grades 6–8
Current Location
Ella Fitzgerald Middle School
Program Length
8-Week Program
About the Program
The Legal Academy is an immersive civic leadership program designed for middle school students in grades 6–8. The program introduces students to the justice system by bringing courtroom concepts, legal roles, and civic responsibility directly into the classroom.
Through hands-on lessons and role-based learning, students explore how local government works, how legal decisions are made, and why due process matters in a fair justice system.
How the Academy Works
Classroom-Based Learning
Students learn legal concepts, courtroom roles, and civic responsibilities through age-appropriate lessons and guided discussion.
Role-Based Instruction
Students step into the roles of prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and witnesses to better understand how legal proceedings work.
Hands-On Practice
Participants analyze evidence, build arguments, practice public speaking, and prepare for the final mock trial experience.
Skills Students Build
The Legal Academy helps students build practical skills they can use inside and outside the classroom. By studying legal scenarios and participating in structured activities, students strengthen their ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and resolve conflict respectfully.
- Critical thinking
- Conflict resolution
- Public speaking
- Teamwork and preparation
- Understanding due process
- Civic leadership
The Capstone: Mock Trial
The Legal Academy culminates in a full-scale mock trial where students demonstrate what they have learned. Participants serve as prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and witnesses while presenting their case before peers, parents, and community leaders.
This capstone experience gives students the opportunity to apply legal concepts, practice courtroom procedure, and showcase their understanding of the justice system in a structured and meaningful way.
Interested in the Legal Academy?
For questions about the Legal Academy, school partnerships, or program availability, please contact the Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.