Boyd School of Law’s Work with Clark High School Students Culminates April 11 in Mock Trial

On April 11, the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law’s Minority Law Students Association (MLSA) will host more than 120 Clark High School students for a day of mock trials and campus tours in an effort to encourage the students to pursue higher education. The event is the culmination of a month-and-a-half-long partnership between the MLSA and Clark High School that had law students visiting the high school to teach about the law and the judicial process.

For the first time in the history of the program, called Street Law, the high school students will present their cases in front of four judges from Clark County courts. Judge Bill Gonzalez, Judge Nancy Allf, Judge Joanna Kishner, and Judge Frank Sullivan will each preside over one of the mock trials. Senator Ruben Kihuen and District Attorney Steve Wolfson will provide words of encouragement at the opening of the event.

“The Street Law Program places Boyd students in high school classrooms to teach students lessons in the law that will help them in their everyday lives and promote their civic awareness,” said Frank Durand, Associate Dean for Student Affairs at the Boyd School of Law. “In addition to helping high school students to become better, and better informed, citizens, the program endeavors to get them thinking more seriously about going to college... and perhaps considering a legal career.”

The program was created by Dean Durand and Professor Robert Correales, both from Boyd, along with Scott Beeten, a Clark High School teacher.

“The students of the William S. Boyd School of Law strive to make a difference. This program is one of the many ways the students seek to enrich the community,” said Rob Telles, President of the MLSA.

The mock trial event will be held April 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Boyd School of Law.