A growing educational initiative in Nassau County is introducing hundreds of students to the legal system through hands-on learning, while building confidence, critical thinking and communication skills that organizers say extend far beyond the courtroom.
The Future Advocates Mock Trial Program, founded by attorney Joshua Brookstein, brings middle school students together with volunteer lawyers and teachers for a 26-week immersive experience that culminates in simulated trials before real judges.
“Our mission is to strengthen confidence, expand critical thinking and communication capabilities, and empower advocacy among Nassau County elementary and middle school students,” Brookstein said.
Now in its fourth year, the program has expanded significantly, growing from just two schools at its inception to 30 schools across 13 districts. More than 400 students are expected to participate this year, representing districts including Baldwin, East Meadow, Hempstead, New Hyde Park/Garden City Park, North Shore Hebrew Academy, North Shore Schools, Roslyn, Uniondale and West Hempstead, as well as several other schools.
Brookstein, a former teacher and assistant principal in New York City who later worked as a juvenile delinquency prosecutor, said the idea for the program emerged from his desire to bridge education and the legal profession in a meaningful way.
“I’ve always been very connected and passionate about helping to inspire the next generation and open their minds to what’s out there,” he said. “We started this program four years ago … and it’s been such an amazing experience to build it to reach over 400 students.”
The program runs from mid-October through late spring, with weekly sessions led by classroom teachers and supported by volunteer attorneys who visit every other week. Together, they guide students through a structured curriculum that introduces them to the fundamentals of the legal system and trial advocacy.
Participants learn how to craft opening statements, conduct direct and cross-examinations and deliver closing arguments. They also analyze evidence and apply legal concepts to a fictional case developed specifically for the program.
This year’s case, “Gomez vs. Stars,” centers on a negligence dispute involving a cell phone in school, an issue designed to reflect real-world scenarios students can understand and engage with.
Students take on the roles of both attorneys and witnesses, working collaboratively to prepare their cases. The experience culminates in a series of mock trials held at Nassau County Supreme Court where students present their arguments before volunteer judges from the county’s Supreme, District and Family courts.
Source: LI Press
