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Legal Mentors

  • Legal Mentors
OUR PROGRAMS
After-School

Legal Mentors

Legal mentors play a crucial role in Discovering Justice’s Mock Trial and Mock Appeal programs. Guiding students as they delve into concepts of justice and democracy, legal mentors help middle school students connect with professionals in the legal field, volunteering their time to work with teams of students as they prepare and litigate mock cases created by Discovering Justice volunteers. Legal mentors meet with students for 90 minutes on a weekly basis to help them prepare a plaintiff case and a defense case, culminating in mock trial events at courthouses across Massachusetts.

We are now accepting applications for legal mentors!

"We've been doing this program for almost ten years and it's literally the highlight of the week for us." 

Cristina & Debbie Freitas

Freitas & Freitas, LLP

Lowell, MA

Become a Legal Mentor

Spring 2024 Program Fast Facts
  • Time Commitment: Week of February 10th-May 12th (11 weeks), 60-90 min/once a week, after school. 
  • Who: 3-5 legal mentors work with 8-12 middle school students, with the support of 1 teacher coordinator
  • Where: Hybrid: at the school, law firm, or virtual for weekly sessions. The culminating courthouse event will take place in a local courthouse. 
  • Experience Level: Legal background and/or JD preferred, but not required
  • Training and Materials: Discovering Justice runs a 2-hour orientation and training in late January. We provide legal mentors with the entire Mock Appeal curriculum including lesson plans, corresponding slide decks, case materials, and teaching tools. 

Read our Frequently Asked Questions about being a Legal Mentor. 

Where

Law offices and schools throughout Massachusetts, with both in-person and online attendance options, and culminating trial events held at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse in Boston, the United States Federal Courthouse in Worcester, the United States Federal Courthouse in Springfield, the Lowell Justice Center, New Bedford Superior Court, and more.

When

After-school team meeting sessions held once per week over the course of ten weeks, with the Mock Trial Program during the fall school semester, and the Mock Appeal Program during the spring semester.

Who

Any legal professional can be a legal mentor including, but not limited to, attorneys, law students, clerks, paralegals, judges and court staff. Contact Malia Brooks at khartman@discoveringjustice.org if you’d like to become a legal mentor or complete this brief application form. 

Legal Mentor Application Form

Hannah Esquenazi

Legal Mentor, Jones Day

“Young kids come into contact with civic issues every day. As a legal mentor in Discovering Justice’s Mock Trial program, I can be someone to remind them that they can speak up and voice their opinions, and that their opinions are worth hearing.”

Meg Ziegler

Legal Mentor, Choate Hall & Stewart

“I love Discovering Justice! I would encourage all lawyers to try it out for a semester and I would also encourage all students that can to sign up.”

Jay Blitzman

First Justice of the Middlesex County Division of the Juvenile Court

"Thanks to Discovering Justice, students in Massachusetts have civic education programs that help young people learn about the justice system and directly engage in public discourse regarding the issues that affect them.”

Rana Suh Kannan

Rana Suh Kannan

Rana Suh Kannan has spent nearly her entire 20+ year career dedicated to providing students with access to high-quality education experiences that lead to strong academic outcomes. She brings extensive and diverse experiences as a teacher, school administrator, funder, and nonprofit professional. Rana is committed to Discovering Justice’s mission to enable students to become well-equipped with the knowledge, skills, and desire to build and sustain an equitable democracy.

Prior to Discovering Justice, Rana spent seven years at Boston Schools Fund, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer. She co-led the development of the organization’s second fund, and ensured its operationalization across the organization. Previously, Rana played pivotal roles at organizations such as Salsify, Phoenix Charter Academy, The Achievement Network, and Roxbury Prep Charter School. Rana graduated from Williams College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Psychology. She earned her Master’s in Education Policy & Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Mehana Koch

Bianca Lora