Prospective Students

Law Team Description

The Flushing High School Law Team is an extracurricular club available to all Flushing students. In the Fall, students compete against other NYC schools in the MENTOR Moot Court Competition hosted by Fordham Law School in partnership with the Justice Resource Center. In the Spring, the students compete in the Mock Trial Competition through the Justice Resource Center and the New York State Bar Association. This competition is state-wide, with students competing against other NYC schools and the winner representing NYC in the State Finals. Students will work with practicing attorneys from the law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP to prepare for the competition. 

Yearbook Blurb 2021-2022 

Students on the Law Team competed in Fordham Law School's MENTOR Moot Court Competition in the Fall and in the Mock Trial Competition in the Spring through the Justice Resource Center and the New York State Bar Association. This year both competitions were held virtually on Zoom. Team members acted as attorneys and witnesses, presenting oral arguments, delivering opening and closing statements, asking and answering questions on direct and cross examination, presenting evidence, and raising and responding to objections.

Sophomore Year

Introduction to Law 1 and 2

Introduction to Law is the first course for FHS students in the Thurgood Marshall Law Academy; the course covers the US legal system. By the end of this course, you will have an understanding of the civil and criminal legal systems in America. You will be able to describe and explain the importance of each aspect of a trial. You will be able to articulate your constitutional rights as citizens in the criminal justice system. You will be able to define and provide examples of different crimes and differentiate between defenses to crimes. You will have an understanding of the civil court system and be able to differentiate between litigation and other forms of dispute resolution. You will be able to negotiate, draft, and analyze the terms of a contract. You will be able to identify, analyze and differentiate between types of intellectual property and present and analyze defenses to claims of infringement. You will be able to apply your legal knowledge in a variety of Mock Trials and other legal activities.

Junior Year

Moot Court & Mock Trial (Fall)

Moot Court and Mock Trial is the third course in the Thurgood Marshall Law Academy. The class will begin with a look at our Court System, including how courts are created, how judges are picked, how cases are selected, and the roles of federal and state courts. During this class, we will take an in-depth look at all levels of our adversary system, including Trials and Appeals. Students will have opportunities to prepare for and present cases at both the trial level and appellate level, culminating in both Moot Court and Mock Trial experiences.

Constitutional Law (Spring)

Constitutional Law is the fourth course in the Thurgood Marshall Law Academy. The class will begin with a look at our Constitutional rights, including how they were created, are changed, and have been interpreted over time. We will take an in-depth look at the civil liberties granted by the Constitution through the Bill of Rights and later Amendments. Students will have opportunities to examine and analyze numerous cases and participate in reports, debates, and discussions. We will also examine many current events and how they relate to the US Constitution and our individual and collective rights and liberties.

Senior Year

Criminology (Fall)

Criminology is the fifth course in the Thurgood Marshall Law Academy. Criminology is the study of crimes and criminal behaviors. By the end of this course, you will have an understanding of the criminal courts, the legal system and its origin in America. We will also examine criminal topics in-depth, including crimes against property and people, defenses to crimes, what leads to crimes, and the morality of criminals.

Criminal Justice (Spring)

Criminology is the sixth course in the Thurgood Marshall Law Academy. The course provides an overview of the foundations and components of the criminal justice system, including (substantive and procedural) criminal law, police, courts, and corrections. The main emphasis will be placed on the criminal justice process and how the various institutions of criminal justice interact.