Pre-Law Summer Academy: Environmental Law and Native American & Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
Compete in a mock trial experience this summer and connect with NJ Law Schools!
This year’s Pre-Law Summer Academy is a rigorous and immersive program for rising juniors, seniors, and graduating high school seniors to learn about the legal process, trial preparation, and issues related to environmental law contamination and Native American and Indigenous Peoples’ Religious and Land Rights. With a mock trial experience as the primary focus, participants will work in teams of four to draft arguments, witness statements, and develop their case strategy with the assistance of professors, law students, and attorneys for the first seven days. Participants will connect the case material with local and global issues by visiting the Lenni Lenape Munsee Three Sisters Farm in northern NJ and reporting on recent events. The last three days of the program are reserved for teams to deliver their arguments in front of mock trial judges followed by visits to the U.S. District Courthouse as well as Rutgers University Law School and Seton Hall University Law School.
Program Dates: Monday, July 10 – Friday, July 14 and Monday, July 17 – Friday, July 21
The Summer 2023 Class is Closed. Stay tuned for information about next year’s program in 2024
2023 Schedule
Monday, July 10, 2023
| –TIME– | –EVENT– |
|---|---|
| 8:30AM | Class Intro.’s and Program Overview, Announce Teams and Roles for Mock Trial Competition (MTC) Teams and Roles |
| 9:45AM | Class read and review of case materials in McNamara v. Energy Dynamics (2d. edition) by Theresa D. Moore. |
| 11:00AM | Lecture: Environmental Law Overview by law professor from Pace University Law School or Rutgers University Law School |
| 12:30PM | Lunch on-campus |
| 1:30PM | Trial Section: Court System and Civil Procedure Overview by Program Director |
| 2:30PM | Class Discussion on Environmental Law Issues in NJ and the World |
| 3:00PM | MTC Team Breakout Strategy Meeting |
| 4:15PM | Reading assignment by Prof. Mark Clatterbuck |
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
| –TIME– | –EVENT– |
|---|---|
| 8:30AM | MTC Team Assignments and Roles Class Check-In |
| 9:00AM | Rules of Evidence Overview by Program Director |
| 10:15AM | Lecture: Indigenous People Land and Religious Rights by Prof. Mark Clatterbuck |
| 11:30PM | Class discussion of lecture and 7/10 reading assignment |
| 12:00PM | Lunch on-campus |
| 1:30PM | Trial Section: Opening Statements, Direct and Cross Examinations of Witnesses, Introducing Evidence, and the Closing Argument by Program Director or local NJ Judge |
| 3:00PM | MTC Team Breakout Case Preparation Meeting |
| 4:15PM | Assignment of Draft I, Writing Assignment |
Wednesday, July 12, 2023 – Field Trip 1
| –TIME– | –EVENT– |
|---|---|
| 8:30AM | Intro. writing assignment for MTC; Student Advocates/Attorneys draft opening statement, questions for direct and cross examination, and list of evidence to introduce. Student Witnesses draft statements on their recollection of the facts that are essential to the plaintiff and defendant’s case strategy |
| 10:15AM | Trial Section: Rules of Evidence: Objections and Arguments by Program Director |
| 11:45AM | Lunch on-campus |
| 12:30PM | Depart to Lenni-Lenape Munsee Three Sister Farm, Ringwood, NJ for tour and lecture |
| 1:15PM | Lecture and Tour of Three Sisters Farm by Chief Vincent Mann and Prof. Mark Clatterbuck |
| 3:45PM | Return to Montclair State University |
| 4:15PM | Discuss Draft I of Writing Assignment due on July 13, 2023 |
Thursday, July 13, 2023
| –TIME– | –EVENT– |
|---|---|
| 8:30AM | Class discussion of trip and draft 1 writing assignment peer review exercise |
| 10:00AM | Lecture: How to Create Your Defense and Prosecution Strategy by Program Director |
| 11:00AM | MTC Team activity/breakout session; discuss attorney and witness strategy |
| 12:15PM | Lunch on-campus |
| 1:15PM | Trial Section: Rules of Evidence and Exhibit Overview part 2 by Program Director |
| 2:00PM | MTC Team breakout session |
| 3:00PM | NJ Attorney or Law Student Panel Discussion |
| 4:15PM | Draft II of Writing Assignment |
Friday, July 14, 2023 – Field Trip 2
| –TIME– | –EVENT– |
|---|---|
| 8:30AM | Class discussion of panel event on July 13th and draft 2 (final) writing assignment peer review exercise |
| 9:45AM | Depart MSU for Rutgers Law School Visit |
| 10:15AM | Arrive for Rutgers Law School Tour and Dean’s Welcome |
| 11:45AM | Lunch To-Go /Off-Campus |
| 1:00PM | Mock trial coaching and discussion with Rutgers Law School students |
| 3:00PM | Return to Montclair State University |
| 4:00PM | MTC Team Check-ins with Program Director and Teaching Assistant |
Monday, July 17, 2023
| –TIME– | –EVENT– |
|---|---|
| 8:30AM | Class discussion of visit to Rutgers Law School and coaching experience |
| 10:00AM | Trial Section: Defense and Prosecution, Closing Statements Strategy Session by NJ Attorney |
| 11:30AM | MTC Team activity/breakout session |
| 12:00PM | Lunch on-campus |
| 1:30PM | Trial Section: Draft Closing Statements for Plaintiff and Defense |
| 2:00PM | MTC Team Breakout Sessions |
| 3:00PM | Native American Law and Religious Land Use Issues in NJ and the World – Class Discussion |
| 4:00PM | MTC Team Check-in with Program Director and Teaching Assistant |
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
| –TIME– | –EVENT– |
|---|---|
| 8:30AM | Review schedule for the MTC on July 19 and judging process |
| 9:00AM | Intro. to Law School Admission Process, Resources, and Tools Available to aspiring law students; presentation by Program Director or law school admissions dean from Pace University Law School or another nearby law school |
| 10:00AM | Intro. to the LSAT and how it relates to law school; presentation by Program Director |
| 11:00AM | MTC Team coaching session breakout |
| 12:00PM | Lunch on-campus |
| 1:30PM | Trial Section: Rules of Evidence, Review on Objections by Program Director |
| 3:00PM | Law Career Paths with NJ Attorneys Panel Discussion |
| 4:30PM | Class ends |
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 – Rounds 1 and 2 of Mock Trial Competition
| –TIME– | –EVENT– |
|---|---|
| 8:30AM | MTC Check-in and Team Breakout sessions |
| 10:00AM | Round 1 of MTC with Judges |
| 12:00PM | Lunch on-campus |
| 1:00PM | MTC Team Breakout Session |
| 2:00PM | Round 2 of MTC with Judges |
| 4:00PM | Collect ballots from Judges |
| 4:30PM | Announce Finalists for Final Round of the MTC |
Thursday, July 20, 2023 – Final Round of Mock Trial Competition
| –TIME– | –EVENT– |
|---|---|
| 8:30AM | MTC Check-in and Breakout Sessions |
| 10:00AM | Final Round of MTC with Judges (all MTC participants observe last round) |
| 12:00PM | Lunch on-campus |
| 1:15PM | Group discussion and reflection on the MTC and how it relates to current events and issues impacting Native American and Indigenous Peoples’ in NJ and around the globe |
| 2:30PM | All participants complete course evaluation on the MTC and lectures |
| 3:30PM | MTC Award Reception with participants and their guests |
Friday, July 21, 2023 – Field Trip 3
| –TIME– | –EVENT– |
|---|---|
| 9:15AM | Depart MSU to U.S. District Courthouse, Newark, NJ |
| 10:15AM | Tour of U.S. District Courthouse, Newark, NJ |
| 12:00PM | Lunch and Tour of Seton Hall Law School |
| 2:15PM | Visit Rutgers Law School to meet with mock trial coaches and Admission Dean |
| 3:30PM | Return to Depart Rutgers Law School, complete final program evaluation |
| 4:15PM | Arrive at Montclair State University, Panzer Athletic Center |