Volunteer
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers have an enormous impact on our students’ lives. With your help, our students will become active members and protectors of our democracy. Inspire tomorrow's civic leaders with us!
Volunteers may sign up by completing the form below:
If your schedule changes and you are no longer able to assist, please let OCLRE know at the earliest opportunity by emailing Cathy Godfrey (cgodfrey@oclre.org) or call calling (614) 485-3510.
Below is a list of volunteer opportunities for all OCLRE programs so you can find the perfect fit!
Judge or Facilitate a Student Event
We the People (High School & Middle School)
During simulated congressional hearings, students play the role of experts testifying before Congress about our Constitution and critical issues in modern politics. Volunteer judges play the role of legislators questioning students to evaluate their knowledge of the topic being presented.
- Judge – Each hearing has a panel of 2-3 judges to evaluate student performance and ask follow-up questions about an assigned topic.
- Facilitate – Several facilitators are needed to direct judges, keep hearings running on time, and collect scoresheets.
- Facilitators must be 18 years or older and must be able to navigate between rooms/floors of the Ohio Statehouse.
Mock Trial (High School & Middle School)
Students participate in an unscripted, simulated trial based on an original case. High school cases focus on constitutional issues, while middle school cases are based on popular middle school level books. Students take on the roles of attorneys, witnesses, bailiffs, and timekeepers.
- Judge – Each trial is evaluated by a judging panel (one presiding judge and 1 or 2 scoring judges).
- Presiding Judges – Preside over the trial and rule on objections while also evaluating student performance. Presiding judges must have a JD; familiarity with Mock Trial or trial advocacy is preferred.
- Scoring Judges – Observe the trial and evaluate student performance. Anyone with a background in the legal community and/or significant Mock Trial experience is eligible to be a scoring judge.
- Facilitate (High School Only) – Several facilitators are needed to check courtrooms for appropriate set-up, keep trials running on time, and collect scoresheets.
- Facilitators must be 18 years or older and must be able to navigate between floors of the Franklin County Courthouse.
Moot Court (High School Only)
High school students take on the role of attorneys at the appellate level, submitting written briefs and presenting oral arguments before a panel of judges. The cases involve U.S. Constitutional issues.
- Oral Argument Judge – Each hearing has a panel of 2-3 judges who act as appellate court judges, questioning student attorneys while evaluating and scoring student performance in oral arguments.
- Brief Evaluator – Each Moot Court team submits one brief, writing for either the petitioner or respondent. Evaluators read and score several briefs using a virtual scoresheet. Brief evaluation is done remotely, in advance of oral arguments.
Join a Committee
Committees for several programs meet in the spring/summer to begin writing the case files students will use. Members of these committees flex their creative muscles by bringing current legal topics to life for students.
- High School Mock Trial
- This committee consists of volunteers who brainstorm ideas for a new High School Mock Trial case each year. Cases must be based on a constitutional issue and must be appropriate for a trial setting.
- Middle School Mock Trial
- This committee consists of volunteers who brainstorm case ideas based on popular middle school level books. Cases must focus on actual events from the book, only elaborating on details or characters when necessary.
- Moot Court
- This committee consists of volunteers who brainstorm ideas for a new High School Moot Court case each year. Cases must be based on a constitutional issue and will follow the appellate process, which will culminate in students presenting oral arguments before the Supreme Court.
