AFC Partners with Legal Outreach to Teach High School Students about the Profession of Education Law

8.15.2013 | Earlier this month, AFC partnered with Legal Outreach’s internship program, which prepares urban youth from underserved communities to compete at high academic levels by using intensive legal and educational programs as tools for fostering vision, developing skills, enhancing confidence, and facilitating the pursuit of higher education. AFC hosted four high school students from the program, who spent a week learning about education law from AFC staff and visited an early intervention program for students with disabilities. As part of their internship, the students also gained hands-on experience by conducting a mock impartial hearing that addressed the provision of supports and services for a six-year-old with autism. The students played the roles of the lawyers for the parent and the DOE, while AFC staff played the DOE psychologist, principal, parent, private school teacher, and impartial hearing officer. Michera Brooks, an AFC staff attorney, says, “The students gained invaluable experience about the education law profession. We loved working with these bright and enthusiastic students all week and hope to partner again with Legal Outreach next summer.”

Aishjzae Hurt, Matthew Mojica, and Clarabelle Hernandez spent a week at AFC learning about education law (not pictured: Nadine Ahmed).

AFC staff with the Legal Outreach interns.