Apprenticeships open up students to U.S. legal system

Serghino René

Dominique Trotman of Dorchester is only 14 years old, but she’s already learned an important lesson: “Life is what you make it; not what it has become.”

Trotman knows firsthand of what she speaks.

Before a crowd of 700 people gathered earlier this month at the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse, Trotman shared her experience as a legal apprentice through two Boston-based nonprofits: Citizen Schools, an after-school program linking students with professionals, and Discovering Justice, a civic education program.

Trotman’s speech was an eye-opening moment for the 100 Boston middle school students who recently litigated their own mock trials in front of real federal and state judges, jury members, family and friends during the 16th annual “Evening of Mock Trials.” The evening was the final event of the 10-week Legal Apprenticeship Program, co-sponsored by Citizen Schools and Discovering Justice.

The students in the Discovering Justice program had studied for the last 12 weeks with a variety of law firms and legal departments, including representatives from the City of Boston, Liberty Mutual, Goodwin Procter LLP and Nixon Peabody LLP.

“This program is very much about literacy [and] confidence, as well as an introduction to the justice system,” said Nora Sinclair of Discovering Justice.

The students go to their legal apprenticeships once a week for as many as three hours. While there, they learn the basics of the justice system — everything from putting together a legal argument to the reasons that both defendant and plaintiffs have equal time before a judge.

Before the students went to their designated chambers during the mock trials, they assembled in the main atrium and were sworn in by Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton of the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts.

“This program is a testament to the role of the public in this building,” said Gorton. “It defines its purpose by transforming its judicial culture and building its civic space with the students who are the future of this community and our country.”

Twelve courtrooms were used simultaneously as Boston’s civic and business leaders formed “celebrity” jury pools to decide the outcomes of the cases.

But Trotman’s experience as a legal apprentice was just a launching pad for her curiosity. A student at the Mildred Avenue Middle School, she has been involved with the Citizen Schools program for three years, landing apprenticeships in cooking, African drumming, history and law.

“Although I thought that this was a regular after school program, I quickly realized that it was different. I was able to do and learn things that my friends weren’t able to experience,” Trotman said.

Lest anyone think that all work and no play made Dominique a dull girl, Trotman spoke about the many fun and exciting times she had in her experience with the apprenticeships. But more than the fun, the lasting lesson she’ll take away is the importance of being an individual.

“You have to stay true to yourself and don’t let others take your joys and happiness. They are powerless. Don’t let anyone impact your identity. It is yours.”