Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, LLP
Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, LLP, in collaboration with four charitable organizations and Miami Dade Public Schools, successfully raised funds to design and renovate two Brownsville Middle School classrooms into a mock courtroom. The mock courtroom was dedicated on May 29 in conjunction with Law Day.
Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, LLP, who mentor students throughout the year in the Brownsville Law Academy, judged five mock debates based on a factual separation of powers scenario regarding gun violence in schools. In addition to the mock debates, students had an informational session with a U.S. District Court judge and were provided pocket Constitutions by FIU Law School. FIU also donated law books to the mock courtroom library.
The Law Day events were covered by six news outlets, highlighting that a Miami school in an area with a 43% poverty rate and a 26% unemployment rate, is committed to fostering academic excellence via legal studies enrichment curriculum. The goal for this Law Day program, the mock courtroom, and activities going forward is to change the negative interactions Brownsville students have with legal professionals, provide a space to cultivate critical thinking, analysis skills, and civic engagement to tip the scales of justice. www.hamiltonmillerlaw.com