Investigate the American Legal System. Examine the sources and hierarchy of laws and the court process. Visit with a police officer and prosecuting and defense attorneys. Engage in a mock criminal trial as the final project. In addition. You will gain:
- Understanding of the sources and hierarchy of laws, including constitutions, statutes and ordinances
- Understanding of the trial court and appellate court system
- Understanding of basic legal terminology
- Introduction to case analysis, with an emphasis on criminal law
- Introduction to trial skills, including direct and cross examination, opening statements and closing arguments
- Earn one college credit awarded by WWU’s Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
Class sessions are scheduled Sunday evening through Thursday. Mock
trials will be held on Friday, concluding with a reception for parents from
4:30-5:30 pm.
Enrollment is limited to a maximum of 15 students.
This program is co-sponsored by the Center for Law, Diversity and Justice at
WWU's Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies.
Class Syllabus [click here]
Detailed Schedule [click here]
Faculty/Instructor
Julie A. Helling, Associate Professor, teaches law courses at Fairhaven College, Western Washington University. She received her B.A.
with honors in English from the University of Iowa and then served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger, West Africa. Julie received her J.D.
cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School, clerked for the Minnesota Court of Appeals, and then served as a domestic violence prosecutor for the City of Minneapolis
Court of Appeals. Helling served as the Director of the Center of Law,
Diversity and Justice from 2000-2006.
Ana Cecilia Lopez, best known as “Ceci”, recently graduated from Western Washington University with a concentration in Law, Diversity, and
Public Policy. Her passion for law and justice grew from her personal experiences as an immigrant and her work at local agencies. In addition
to her college program, Ceci worked and currently works at the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center where she received Basic Mediation training.
Ceci will attend Law School at the University of Washington starting this fall.
