April 2001

Proud to Be a Teacher:
How Lawyers Can Educate the Public about the Law

by Judith Billings and the Honorable Marlin Appelwick
Co-chairs, Public Legal Education Committee

Americans are excellent consumers of the law. Television ratings, book sales and video rentals consistently show that a conflict waged in a courtroom or Senate hearing has as great a claim on the public's attention as one fought in a stadium. Although, when offered a chance to participate in the legal system by serving on a jury, leading a petition drive, challenging an unfair business practice, or even voting — most Americans decline. When they need practical advice, as people inevitably do, they discover that John Grisham novels and The West Wing offer little guidance about our everyday rights and responsibilities, or how the system actually works.

This is disturbing for several reasons. When people are unaware of their responsibilities they will likely violate them, just as those who are unaware of their rights are vulnerable to being victimized. Just as troubling is the public's declining sense of ownership in the rules and systems that shape our lives. Government and the law are often seen not as tools that can be used to address problems, but as distant and arbitrary forces. Lawyers, judges and politicians are thus seen as agents of questionable authority rather than custodians of equal justice.

The solution, of course, is education — not only of schoolchildren, but of the public as a whole. The Washington State Bar Association recognizes this need in its current Long-Range Strategic Plan, which calls for programs to "broaden public knowledge about the law, the rule of law, and the role of lawyers and judges in the justice system." One way the WSBA is achieving this goal is by housing and staffing the Council on Public Legal Education (CPLE). Just over one year old, the CPLE is a partnership of educators, lawyers, journalists, judges, community leaders and others concerned about legal illiteracy in Washington.

While many excellent public legal education programs do exist, they reach only a fraction of the population. The CPLE's mission is to coordinate and expand successful programs, and create new opportunities to connect the public with government and the justice system. Our ambitious long-term plan relies on three strategies:

• "Educating the educators," including teachers, journalists and public officials, so they can better educate students and the public about government and the law.
• Assisting community groups, government agencies, courts, libraries and other places that the public turns to for information by developing materials on specific legal topics.
• Providing information directly to the public via a "gateway" legal Web site that will bring together existing self-help, referral, educational and other resources, as well as create new ones.

Although most of the CPLE's work is done by volunteers, we are making great progress. When we recently celebrated our one-year anniversary, we had already conducted a legal workshop for new state legislators, held a civics conference for K-12 teachers, located funding for a program that will create 10 new youth courts throughout the state, and successfully lobbied for civics education to be included in the new high-school graduation requirements.

There are many opportunities for WSBA members throughout the state to help educate the public about the law. The CPLE committees need help with the following projects:

• The Community Committee is researching and developing content for the legal Web site, assisting organizations with creating informational materials for the public, and organizing legal education workshops for local public officials.
• The Education Committee is promoting legal education in both K-12 classrooms and higher education by developing and publicizing curriculum materials, and sponsoring training sessions and conferences.
• The Media Committee is producing a legal resource guide and planning legal workshops for journalists.
• The Formal Legal Process Committee is seeking to improve information provided to users of the legal system by surveying them about their experiences.

The CPLE would also appreciate assistance with publicizing and funding these projects, as well as with building partnerships with groups already working in these areas.

Statewide Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are needed for the following programs:

• Join hundreds of lawyers, judges and teachers across the state to educate students about the law during Law Week 2001 (April 30-May 4). For more information, visit the Law Week Web site (www.lawweek.org) or contact the statewide coordinator, Lisa KauzLoric, at 206-733-5944 or lisak@wsba.org. 
• Many legal organizations maintain speakers bureaus to fill requests from classrooms and community groups. To join the WSBA speakers bureau, contact Amy O'Donnell at 206-727-8213 or amyo@wsba.org.  To join the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association (WSTLA) speakers bureau, contact Rebecca Sommermeyer at 206-464-1011 or rps@wstla.org.  The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is also recruiting speakers; contact Doug Honig or Chris Mayhall at 206-624-2184.
• The Judges in the Classroom program gives judges the opportunity to teach students about the legal system. For more information, visit the Office of the Administrator for the Courts' Web site at http://www.courts.wa.gov/education  or call 360-753-3365.
• The Lawyers and Students Engaged in Resolution (LASER) program pairs lawyers with schools to teach peer mediation techniques to students. For more information, contact Barbara Peterson at 206-389-2794 or barbp@atg.wa.gov. 
• The People's Law School, a WSTLA project, educates members of the general public about their rights as consumers and citizens. New classes are being planned for fall 2001. To volunteer, contact Rebecca Sommermeyer at 206-464-1011 or rps@wstla.org. 
• We the People, a classroom-based program that helps students develop critical thinking skills while learning about their rights and responsibilities under the Constitution, seeks volunteers to work with teachers and assist with its state competition in mid-May. For more information, visit http://www.civiced.org/wethepeople.html, or contact Kathy Hand at 206-244-3463 or k.hand@gte.net. 
• The WSBA Young Lawyers Division sponsors a wide range of public-education programs, including the Aspiring Youth Program, the YMCA Mock Trial Competition and the Pre-Law Student Leadership Conference. For more information visit www.wsba.org/lawyers/groups/wyld/public.htm, or contact Lisa KauzLoric at 206-733-5944 or lisak@wsba.org. 
• The Street Law program pairs law-student teachers with high-school classrooms. Volunteer attorneys are needed in Seattle and Tacoma to assist with late-April mock trials. For more information, see the Street Law Web site (http://www.streetlaw.org/), or contact Margaret Fisher at 206-329-2690.
• The Council on Public Legal Education is recruiting volunteers to develop educational materials and programs for the general public and specific groups. To volunteer, contact Pam Inglesby at 206-727-8226 or pami@wsba.org. 
• The Equal Justice Coalition seeks team captains to educate their communities and elected officials about the need to support legal aid and pro bono programs. To volunteer, contact Erin Hyppa at 206-447-8168 or equalj@ejc.org. 

Additional information about the CPLE (including minutes of our meetings) is located on the WSBA Web site at http://www.plecouncil.org/.  If you are interested in working with the Council on Public Legal Education, or know of other statewide PLE volunteer opportunities not listed here, contact Pam Inglesby, WSBA public legal education manager, at 206-727-8226 or pami@wsba.org. 

CORRECTION: In last month's issue, David Hoff was identified as the WSBA's oldest living past president. John Huneke, who served as president from 1969-1970, holds that distinction. Additionally, Mr. Hoff was referred to as David Huff. Our apologies to Mr. Huneke and to Mr. Hoff for these errors.

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