The Law and Leadership Institute is helping shape the minds of Ohio high school students through its 2013 Spring Competition at Capital Law School. The institute is hosting the moot court and debate competition on March 9.

Columbus high school students who participate in the institute will compete against students from Cleveland to commemorate the capstone of the program’s academic year. The Law and Leadership Institute is a state-wide initiative that collaborates with the legal community to help prepare students from underserved communities for post-secondary success through a four-year academic program in law, leadership, analytical thinking, and writing skills.

“Throughout the year, our students study legal terms and concepts, case law, legal writing, and more. After all of the preparation and practice, the students are very excited to compete against other Law and Leadership Institute cities and demonstrate their legal acumen in front of local attorneys, judges, and their families,” said Reina Sims, Law and Leadership Institute deputy director.

The students will argue timely subject matter throughout the day. Ninth grade students will analyze the proper limitations of students’ First Amendment right of freedom of speech, and tenth grade students will analyze the proper limitations of students’ free speech on a personal blog. The upper classmen will debate privacy on the internet and if civil disobedience is an appropriate weapon in the fight for justice.

“For our seniors, spring competition is bitter sweet. Moot court is their last activity with the institute before they go off to college,” Sims said.

The Law and Leadership Institute is currently accepting applications for their Summer Institute program held on June 24 – July 26. Applications can be found on the website at www.lawandleadership.org.  Applications are due on or before April 15, 2013. Interested participants can contact Sims at 614.485.3502 or rsims@lawandleadership.org for more information.