New Visions: Law

Course Description:

The New Visions: Law program is what you've been waiting for. Here is a chance to find out if the field of law is for you. Instead of watching law shows on television, see first hand what goes on inside of top law offices. You don't need to follow TV judges; spend a month in a courtroom, working alongside a real judge. In the New Visions: Law program you can:

• Earn up to 9 fully transferable college credits
• Work with the District Attorney
• Learn about family law from the Family Court Judge
• Research and help write laws for municipalities in Dutchess County
• Explore Federal, State and Local Courts
• Sit in with the judge during confidential conferences in chambers

In the New Visions: Law program, students will develop competencies applicable to many careers in the field of law. Through daily involvement with legal professionals, students will learn what is required of a law professional on a daily basis and how their high school education can be applied in real-world settings. They will gain a better understanding of the professional demands of a busy, technical environment and learn how to work together as a team to bring justice and law to the community. Transferable knowledge gained by students will include that needed to meet current credit requirements for senior English and Social Studies and provide two (2) credits for occupations law. The curricula in all three areas will be closely related to the overall topic of law. Students who successfully complete the course will receive 9 college credits from Dutchess Community College.

Overview:

New Visions Law maintains a classroom in downtown Poughkeepsie, across the street from all of the courts and law offices. This allows maximum exposure to the legal field. Students participate extensively in activities in legal settings. In recent years, students have been placed with the Dutchess County Court, Surrogate’s Court, Supreme Court, Family Court, United States Bankruptcy Court, City of Poughkeepsie City Court, City of Poughkeepsie Corporation Counsel, District Attorney’s Office and Office of Probation. In addition, students have been placed in private law offices in Poughkeepsie. During the classroom portion of the program, students will integrate their practical experiences learned in the legal rotations with English, Participation in Government, Economics and Introduction to Law.

Program Objectives:

• Apply previous academic knowledge and skills to professional tasks and problems.
• Develop career plans based on the knowledge gained through experiential learning.
• Begin preparation for professional law careers.

Course Components:

• Law Occupations [2 Credits]
• Introduction to Law [3 college credits from Dutchess Community College – GOV 151]
• Clinical Rotations
• Honors 12th grade English [1 Credit]
• Social Studies [1 Credit]
  • Macro and Micro Economics [3 college credits from Dutchess Community College – ECO 105]
  • American National Government [3 college credits from Dutchess Community College – GOV 121]

Student Eligibility Requirements:

• Be a senior from a Dutchess BOCES component district.
• Have demonstrated an interest and desire to learn about law careers.
• Be academically sound and have met graduation requirements prior to acceptance into the program.
• Exhibit a high level of responsibility and maturity with the ability to work in a team, as well as individually; the New Visions represents the home school.
• Be conscientious and highly motivated to succeed.
• Be recommended by a high school English teacher, guidance counselor and principal.
• Plan to attend college or post-secondary education.
• Be able to provide his or her own transportation to and from the program.

Program Outline:

• Provides the opportunity to experience law careers while still in high school
• Advanced Placement English Composition
• Students earn 9 fully transferable college credits for Economics, American Government and Law
• Learning takes place in courts, law offices and government offices
• Students Interact with lawyers and judges
• Instruction is divided between classroom and professional settings
• Program taught by an attorney/social studies/English teacher

Career Opportunities:

Students develop a wide variety of career oriented skills and competencies in the legal setting. In addition to becoming lawyers or paralegals, individuals who successfully complete law school are sought after in all fields of business, education, communications, as sports and theatrical agents, for law enforcement and for government.