Opportunities

Volunteers are a critical part of delivering high quality authentic civic education programs to our students and teachers.  Volunteers are needed to serve in a variety of roles, from assisting as facilitators at competitions, to serving as judges, and even as writers of materials and case files. 

If you have questions about volunteering, or to learn more about our programs, please
e-mail oclre@oclre.org, or call 614-485-3510.

To volunteer please click HERE

Please note, you will be prompted to create an account which will enable you to add/modify your volunteer sign-up.

Attorneys and non-attorneys play a critical role in making our programs possible for students. Below please find the dates and descriptions for each of our volunteer opportunities:

High School We the People State Competition: January 24 (Ohio Statehouse)

Volunteer judges play the role of legislators hearing testimony from student experts in mock congressional hearings. The students have spent a semester studying the structure and history of government, and now are prepared to give their opinion to lawmakers around the issues and challenges faced by our modern democracy.

Volunteer facilitators help guide judging panels to the student rooms, time hearings using provided stopwatches, and serve as a link to OCLRE staff throughout the day.

Click here to volunteer!

High School Mock Trial State Tournament: March 12-13 (Franklin County Courthouse)

Volunteer judges (Attorneys, Paralegals, and law students) serve as court judges scoring students in simulated criminal and civil trials. One experienced judge serves as the Presiding Judge (keeping the trial running, ruling on objections, etc.) and two others serve as scoring judges. 

Volunteer facilitators are assigned 2-3 courtrooms to monitor during the tournament to help to make sure trials are starting on time, alerting courthouse staff when a room needs to be unlocked, and serve as a liaison to OCLRE staff throughout the day. 

Click here to volunteer!

Middle School We the People State Showcase: April 3 (Ohio Statehouse)

Volunteer judges play the role of legislators hearing testimony from student experts in mock congressional hearings. The students have spent a semester studying the structure and history of government, and now are prepared to give their opinion to lawmakers around the issues and challenges faced by our modern democracy.

Volunteer facilitators help guide judging panels to the student rooms, time hearings using provided stopwatches, and serve as a link to OCLRE staff throughout the day.

Click here to volunteer!

Middle School Mock Trial State Showcase: April 17, 23, 24 (Ohio Supreme Court)

Volunteer judges (Attorneys, Paralegals, and law students) serve as court judges scoring students in simulated criminal and civil trials based on popular literature. In 2020, students will take part in a trial based on the book Holes by Louis Sachar. One experienced judge serves as the Presiding Judge (keeping the trial running, ruling on objections, etc.) and two others serve as scoring judges. 

Click here to volunteer!

Moot Court State Competition: May 1 (Ohio Supreme Court)

Volunteer judges (Attorneys) serve as court judges scoring students in simulated oral arguments before a mock Supreme Court. Students participants are asked to prepare to argue one constitutional issue, and one statutory interpretation issue before the court.

Brief evaluators (Attorneys) read and score student written briefs in the weeks prior to the competition. Evaluators are sent 3-4 student briefs to review based on the scoring rubric provided. Volunteers have two weeks to complete their evaluations from home around their personal schedules.

Click here to volunteer!