Lawyers in the Classroom

Lawyers in the Classroom is a program designed to provide opportunities for students of all ages to interact with lawyers and judges in the classroom to further their understanding of the law. Volunteer speakers are available for presentations in area schools (elementary, middle and high school). There are a variety of law-related topics available for discussion, including juvenile law, careers in law and your rights as you become an adult.  All services are free of charge.

To participate or volunteer in the program, please e mail teckelkamp@bamsl.org 

Dropout Prevention

Teens Speak Out!

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
"Teens Speak Out!" (TSO) is a program that gives St. Louis area high school students an opportunity to present proposals for community change based on the issues students feel most strongly effect them as teenagers and high school students. A panel of distinguished community leaders then critique the presentations and the students' proposals for change.

Participating schools are provided with a volunteer attorney coach (VAC). The VAC meets regularly with students at a designated facility (usually the school) to help with research, organization and presentation in the weeks before the forum.

During the forum, each team gives a 15-minute presentation before other student participants and community leaders. After each presentation, panelists ask questions, testing the students' knowledge of the issues and the likelihood of positive change. Students then have a final opportunity to defend their position. Click here for more information.

Truancy Court

The St. Louis County Truancy Court Program began in 2000 with the partnering of St. Louis County Family Courts, The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, and several school districts within St. Louis County. This is an intervention program that works with the school districts involved to try to steer at risk students back on track so as to avoid referring them to social services.  Together with the school districts the program forms a list of criterion that is used to determine which students are considered at risk. 

Volunteer judges and attorneys (serving as judges) work with chronic truants and their families in weekly court sessions.  Each student meets individually each week with the judge and the school counselor to identify the issues that are preventing him or her from attending school regularly and punctually or causing disciplinary or academic problems.  The student’s progress is tracked through attendance, academic and disciplinary records, and progress reports from teachers.  The judge discusses with the student and his or her parents how they can improve the student’s performance.  Sometimes the issue can be resolved by something as simple as purchasing the student a pair of shoes or an alarm clock or getting the parents to help out with homework.   

To participate or volunteer in the program, please e mail teckelkamp@bamsl.org 

Mentor Program
YLD and Saint Louis University Law School is working together to sponsor a mentoring program for second -and- third year law students.  The program is available in the Spring and the Fall.  It has been formatted to provide experience for students that will facilitate an awareness of the real-life practice of law and the legal profession. As a mentor, you will be asked to organize three specific experiences with the student, such as inviting your student to attend a deposition or go to court. Then, you will be expected to discuss the experience with your student before and after the event. The program lasts eight weeks long beginning with an orientation at Saint Louis University.

The program provides for a one-on-one assigned match for eight weeks. Law students will request a mentor from the program administrator at Saint Louis University. Every effort will be made to match those with similar interests, practice areas, size of practice, special abilities, geographic location, and even gender and ethnicity. Mentors will be encouraged to meet with their student on a reasonably frequent basis and should stay in contact by telephone or e mail. BAMSL recommends meeting at least three times in the eight weeks. By no means was the program set up for future employment or for the mentor to serve as a crutch. Mentors simply provide general advice, assistance, and wisdom.

To participate as a mentor or protégé, please contact teckelkamp@bamsl.org 

Career Fairs
Career Fairs are sponsored by numerous schools through the year. BAMSL needs attorneys willing to attend schools and discuss careers in the law. BAMSL will ask you to participate for one career fair. Commitment is minimal.

Teachers interested in having an attorney attend their school or attorneys willing to volunteer, please contact teckelkamp@bamsl.org    

Speaker's Bureau
BAMSL's Speaker Bureau Program consists of volunteer members who agree to participate in BAMSL’s community outreach to schools, businesses, media, and other civic organizations requesting legal expertise.  Attorneys volunteer to attend a classroom, meeting, or event and discuss your specified topic.  All attorney volunteer their time, therefore, the program is free of charge.  

Please contact teckelkamp@bamsl.org for more information or to get an attorney to speak to your group.

Student Internships
BAMSL does not offer a formal internship program.  During the Summer months, students may volunteer their time in local law firms.  

For more information, please contact teckelkamp@bamsl.org