K–12 Civic Education Program

Lawyers & Judges in School Program

Connecting Hawaiʻi classrooms with volunteer judges and attorneys who bring law, government, and civic responsibility to life.

Request a Speaker Ask a Question

Volunteer attorney speaking with students in a Hawaiʻi public school classroom

Students participating in a Lawyers and Judges in School Program classroom visit

“Aʻohe pau ka ʻike i ka hālau hoʻokahi.”

All knowledge is not contained in only one school

ʻŌlelo Noʻeau: Hawaiian Proverbs & Poetical Sayings, #203. Collected, translated, and annotated by Mary Kawena Pukui. Honolulu, Hawaiʻi: Bishop Museum Press, 1983.

Celebrating Civics in Schools and in the Community

Jan 30Every Year

Civil Liberties & the Constitution Day

May 1Every Year

Law Day

Sep 17Every Year

U.S. Constitution Day

Year-RoundOngoing

Public School Calendar Contests

About the Program

PACE Commissioners and Hawaiʻi State Bar Association (HSBA) Civic Education Committee members support K-12 teachers and students by providing resources and sharing stories of local and national advocates connected to Hawaiʻi’s places, people, and events. These stories — including those of Aunty Pilahi Paki, the late Congresswoman Patsy Mink, Fred Korematsu, and others — highlight how advocacy has shaped a civil and diverse democracy for the people of Hawaiʻi.

PACE Commissioners and HSBA Civic Education Committee members have also created PowerPoints, worksheets, and other teaching tools that help K-12 students learn how government works, why civic participation matters, and what to know about careers in legal fields. Lessons cover differences among municipal, state, and federal government, similarities and differences between State and U.S. constitutional law, the three branches of government, checks and balances, the rule of law, and Hawaiʻi’s Civil Liberties & the Constitution Day.

Goal

Program Overview

To help both public and private school teachers request judges and attorneys to speak with K-12 students and strengthen civics learning statewide. The HSBA Civic Education Committee coordinates classroom visits from volunteer lawyers, based on attorney availability.

How to Participate

To request a judge or attorney to speak at your school, teachers may contact Marissa Ordonez, fill out a request form, or email the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association.

Request a Speaker

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can request a judge or lawyer to speak at their school?

Public and private school teachers across Hawaiʻi (K-12) may request a volunteer judge or attorney speaker through the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association.

Is there a cost to request a speaker?

No. Speakers are volunteer judges and attorneys coordinated through the HSBA Civic Education Committee, based on availability.

What topics do speakers cover?

Topics include how government works, the rule of law, the three branches of government, checks and balances, the U.S. Constitution, and civic responsibility.

How far in advance should I request a speaker?

Because speakers are volunteers, we recommend submitting requests as early as possible, especially around Law Day (May 1) and Constitution Day (September 17).