Curricular Resources for Law Electives

SUPREME COURT CASE MATERIALS AND MOOT COURTS 

Street Law provides case summaries, case study methods, and moot court resources that build students’ understanding of constitutional issues, appellate reasoning, and civic skills. 

Supreme Court Case Summaries and Case Study Methods 

Our free Resource Library includes hundreds of classroom-ready summaries of recent and historic Supreme Court cases.  

SCOTUS in the Classroom highlights the Court’s most teachable recent cases and encourages teachers to hold moot courts when the Court hears oral arguments—giving students the opportunity to follow cases as they unfold. 

These summaries can be paired with any of Street Law’s seven case study strategies: Anatomy of a Case, Unmarked Opinions, Classifying Arguments, Judicial Opinion Writing, Student Law Firms, Applying Precedents, and Moot Courts. 

Moot Courts and Mini-Moot Courts 

Street Law’s Classroom Guide to Moot Courts provides step-by-step instruction for conducting moot courts. Lessons build the foundation for a meaningful experience—from understanding the appellate process to granting cert, preparing arguments, writing opinions, and evaluating performance. 

Lessons include: 

1. The Court System: Which Court? 
2. The Court System: Appellate Process 
3. Deciding to Decide: Granting Cert 
4. You Be the Justice 
5. Deciphering Opinions 
6. Applying Precedent 
7. Student Law Firms: Constructing Arguments 
8. Judicial Opinion Writing 
9. Analyzing Oral Argument Questions (Optional – Advanced) 
10. Moot Court: Court Is Now in Session (rubric included) 
11. Mini-Moot Courts (Optional) 

You can also watch a short instructional video on how to conduct a mini-moot court. 

Recommended moot court cases for the classroom: 

Below are case summaries well-suited for classroom moot courts. 

• Pottawatomie County v. Earls (2002) - Fourth Amendment, search and seizure 
• Carpenter v. United States (2018) - Fourth Amendment, search and seizure 
• Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. (2021) - First Amendment, student speech 
• Tyson Timbs v. Indiana (2019) - Eighth Amendment, excessive fines 
• Matal v. Tam (2017) - First Amendment, trademark 
• United States v. Virginia (1996) - Constitutional Law, equal protection based on gender 
• Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) - First Amendment, freedom of religion 

Many SCOTUS in the Classroom cases and additional case summaries in the Resource Library also work well for moot courts. 

Important note: Some cases address highly sensitive, personal issues. To avoid causing harm, Street Law recommends using other case study methods for cases of this nature rather than conducting moot courts.

MOCK TRIALS AND LEGAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 

Street Law provides step-by-step lessons and ready-made trial materials that help students build argumentation, evidence evaluation, courtroom procedure, and legal analysis. 

Our Classroom Guide to Mock Trials is a comprehensive resource that supports teachers in planning and running mock trials. We also offer free mock trials developed by Georgetown Street Law Program. 

Lessons include: 

1. Setting the Scene  
2. Steps in a Trial 
3. Making of Jury: Voir Dire  
4. Creating a Theory of the Case  
5. Opening Statements  
6. Composing Questions for Direct and Cross-examination  
7. Rules of Evidence  
8. Procedures for Evidence  
9. Closing Arguments  
10. Mock Trial Preparation  
11. The Mock Trial  

Recommended mock trials for the classroom (organized by complexity): 

Simple Mock Trials 

• People v. Taylor - criminal law, assault and battery 
• Brown v. Jones - landlord tenant, failure to pay rent 

Moderate Mock Trials 

• Hudson v. Daily Metropolis - constitutional law, motion to compel a reporter to produce information 
• Vickers v. Hearst – torts, third party host liability 

Challenging Mock Trials (from the Georgetown Street Law Program) 

• New Columbia v. Chris Archer - first degree murder, criminal hazing 
• Walker v. Brewster – torts, negligent storage of a handgun 

STRUCTURED CLASSROOM DISCUSSION ABOUT CONTESTED ISSUES 

Street Law provides strategies and lesson plans to guide thoughtful classroom discussions that encourage civil discourse, critical thinking, and exploration of multiple perspectives. 

Deliberations 

Deliberations are structured activities that allow students to cooperatively discuss contested political or social issues. Using Deliberations, teachers can guide students in considering multiple perspectives, weighing evidence, and seeking common ground. 

Street Law provides a robust collection of over 40 free Deliberation resources, including a short instructional video to help you lead a Deliberation successfully. 

Deliberations that align well with Law Electives: 

• Assault Weapons Deliberation (High School) 
• Drug Legalization Deliberation (High School) 
• Flag Desecration Amendment Deliberation (High School) 
• Gun Licensing Deliberation (High School) 
• Hate Speech Deliberation (High School and Middle School) 
• Immigration Deliberation (High School) 
• Juvenile Justice Deliberation (High School) 
• Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. Deliberation (High School) 
• Medical Aid in Dying Deliberation (High School) 
• Minimum Wage Deliberation (High School and Middle School) 
• Refugee Quotas Deliberation (High School) 
• School Cellphone Policy Deliberation (High School) 
• School Resource Officers Deliberation (High School and Middle School) 

Socratic Seminars

Socratic seminars engage students in collaborative, inquiry-based exploration of a text(s), helping them dive into questions, examine unresolved issues, and take ownership of their learning with minimal teacher guidance. 

Socratic seminars that align well with law electives:  

• Free Speech in Schools (Middle School) 
• The Case of the Shipwrecked Sailors (High School) 
• War Powers (High School) 
• Brown v. Board and Beyond (High School

TEACHING ABOUT RULE OF LAW 

Street Law offers a comprehensive set of lessons that help students understand the principles and real-world importance of rule of law.  

Rule of Law for All Curriculum  

This curriculum helps students explore, understand, and apply core principles of the rule of law in the United States and around the world. 

Rule of law is a foundational principle of democracy. It holds that no one is above the law, laws are publicly known, laws apply and are enforced equally, and disputes are resolved by an independent judiciary.  

This curriculum helps students examine these ideas through engaging activities, real-world scenarios, and opportunities to connect the concepts to their own communities. 

Lessons include:  

1. Introduction to Rule of Law 
2. Controlling Corruption and Abuse of Power 
3. Open and Transparent Government 
4. Fair and Effective Court System 
5. Fundamental Rights 
6. Peace and Stability
7. Limiting and Balancing Government Power
8. Culminating Activity: Addressing a Rule of Law Challenge in My Community 

The core lessons and 28 extension activities were designed with middle and high school social studies teachers in mind, for courses ranging from U.S. history to civics and law to global studies.

All are available in Street Law’s Resource Library. 

SIMULATIONS OF DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES 

Street Law provides hands-on role plays and interactive simulations that immerse students in authentic civic and legal decision-making. 

Simulations of democratic processes are ideal activities for law electives. They give students the opportunity to step into the roles of lawmakers, jury consultants, jurors, mediators, and negotiators—helping them understand the mechanics of civic and legal systems while practicing critical thinking, collaboration, public speaking, and decision-making skills. 

The following simulation resources are available in Street Law’s Resource Library: 

• Cyberbullying Legislative Hearing 
• Mock Mediation Strategy 
• Mock Negotiation Strategy 
• The Amendments that Got Away 
• Making of a Jury: Voir Dire (jury selection simulation) 
• Voting Procedures Reform: State Legislative Hearing Simulation 
• Moot Courts 
• Mock Trials  

STANDALONE LESSONS

Street Law offers curated lessons on key law elective topics, ready to supplement or enhance any course. These lessons provide targeted instruction on important legal concepts and current issues, helping students deepen their understanding and engage actively with the law. 

A variety of lessons are available in Street Law’s Resource Library. Use the “Filter Resources” tool to find lessons to support your course.  

Below is a sampling of lessons well-aligned to law electives: 

• Redistricting and Gerrymandering 
• What Makes an Ideal SCOTUS Nominee? 
• Take a Stand: Federal Marijuana Legislation (High School) 
• 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause 
• How Do Judges Interpret the Constitution? 
• How Well Do You Know Your U.S. Supreme Court? 
• Teaching Torts: Liebeck v. McDonald’s Restaurant  

STREET LAW WEBSITES FOR DEEPER UNDERSTANDING 

Street Law offers interactive websites that enrich instruction with primary sources, inquiry-based lessons, and visual tools for exploring legal history. 

Landmark Cases of the U.S. Supreme Court 

Street Law publishes LandmarkCases.org, a site featuring in-depth, interactive teaching materials on historic Supreme Court cases. The cases featured on Landmark Cases are the most commonly mentioned cases in state social studies standards across the United States. 

Street Law recommends aligning these cases with the corresponding law-elective units:

• Unit 1: Introduction to Law and the Legal System

• • Gibbons v. Ogden 
  • Gideon v. Wainwright 
  • Marbury v. Madison 
  • McCulloch v. Maryland 
  • United States v. Nixon 

• Unit 2: Criminal Law and Juvenile Justice 

• • Mapp v. Ohio 
  • Miranda v. Arizona 
  • New Jersey v. T.L.O. 

• Unit 5: Family Law  

• • Obergefell v. Hodges 

• Unit 6: Individual Rights and Liberties 

• • Brown v. Board of Education 
  • Dred Scott v. Sandford 
  • Engel v. Vitale  
  • Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier 
  • Korematsu v. United States 
  • Obergefell v. Hodges 
  • Plessy v. Ferguson 
  • Regents of the University of California v. Bakke 
  • Roe v. Wade 
  • Schenck v. United States 
  • Texas v. Johnson 
  • Tinker v. Des Moines 

LandmarkCases.org is presented in partnership with the Supreme Court Historical Society.  

Legal Timelines  

LegalTimelines.org brings U.S. legal history to life with interactive, visual timelines based on primary sources and inquiry-based lessons. Timeline topics include: 

• Federalism 
• Native American Legal History 
• Presidential Powers 
• Safeguards of Justice (rights of the accused) 
• Students’ Rights 
• Suffrage 

Each timeline is accompanied by multiple Inquiry Packs that explore key themes over time. 

The timelines can be used across units, but may align best with the following:  

• Unit 1: Introduction to Law and the Legal System  

• • Federalism 
  • Presidential Powers 
  • Students’ Rights 
  • Suffrage 

• Unit 2: Criminal Law and Juvenile Justice  

• • Safeguards of Justice (rights of the accused) 
  • Students’ Rights 

• Unit 6: Individual Rights and Liberties  

• • Native American Legal History 
  • Safeguards of Justice (rights of the accused) 
  • Students’ Rights 
  • Suffrage 

LegalTimelines.org is made possible through funding from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Program.