Law-Related Education Projects: State Update your project's information Project Survey Summary The ABA conducted a survey of Youth for Justice state law-related education (LRE) projects in November of 1998. We received a response from virtually every state, but some states provided information only in some areas. The surveys indicate that these state LRE projects continue to be a vital bridge between schools, the public, and the legal community toward the goal of increasing young people's understanding of the law. The results of the survey are summarized below. Programs | Products | Relationship to Bar Associations | Funding | Staffing Programs Youth for Justice state projects sponsor a variety of educational programs, resources, and events. The most popular programs are conferences, institutes, workshops, and trainings for teachers (70%), mock trial competitions (64%), lending libraries or resource centers (47%), youth summits (40%), and "lawyer in the classroom" activities (36%). For more detailed information and links to specific state projects, see the Common Programs Index. Back to Top Products The most popular products offered by Youth for Justice state LRE projects are newsletters (53%), mock trial scripts/scenarios (45%), lessons and curricula (35%), and Know Your Rights-type brochures (20%). For more detailed information and links to specific state projects, see the Common Products Index. Back to Top Relationship to Bar Associations Most projects are affiliated with the state bar in some way: 48% are either part of the state bar or work very closely with it; another 38% have some relationship with the state bar -- financial support or other collaboration for some of the project's activities; and only 14% have no relationship with the state bar. Some projects are housed in the state bar association; others function as the community-outreach arm of the state bar; others are only loosely connected, with the bar president serving on the LRE project's board of directors, for example. Most projects closely involved with the state bar association indicate that the relationships are good. Some projects indicate that their relationships with the state bar could be improved through better support and more involvement from bar association members in the project's activities and long-range planning. Back to Top Funding The two most common sources of funding for Youth for Justice state LRE projects are state or local bar associations (including interest on lawyers' trust accounts-IOLTA) and private foundations and corporations. Other common funding sources include state departments of education, federal government offices, and state courts. Amounts of funding from different sources vary greatly. The median amount of support from state/local bars/IOLTA is $46,850.00; compared with $10,000 from foundations/corporations, and $40,000-50,000 from state departments of education and other state and federal government agencies. Back to Top Staffing Most state LRE projects have a small staff; a majority has three or fewer staff people. Two projects rely entirely on volunteers, 8 projects (18%) have one staff person (most of whom are part-time), 18 projects (41%) have 2-3 staff, and 16 projects (36%) have 4 or more staff. Back to Top LRE Projects Home | State LRE Projects Home | State Project Profiles Common Programs & Products | Project Survey Summary National LRE Projects Home | Contact Information | Youth for Justice Program