Legal Studies Academy

First Colonial High School Legal Studies

The Legal Studies Academy provides students who have an interest in and curiosity about the law, law-related fields, and legal and ethical issues the opportunity to extend their knowledge beyond the typical

high school program. The academy offers students the opportunity to embrace not only an academic curriculum that will prepare them for post-secondary education, but also will allow them career exploration within the area of legal studies. Courses of study are extended through law-related seminars and field trips. Students will experience many hands-on activities through criminal investigations, internships and mock trials in the Academy’s courtroom/classroom.

The academy curriculum promotes academic excellence through an emphasis on advanced analytical thinking, research, writing and oratory presentation to understand complex issues within the law and society. Curriculum alignment is achieved through a continued focus on understanding related to the social contract, as well as the continuous application of advanced reading, writing and analytical skills.

The four-year program builds upon core legal courses, enhancement of academy English, social studies and science classes, and sequenced advanced placement courses. In order to promote active learning and the importance of community involvement, all Legal Studies Academy students are required to participate in job shadowing, legal internships and community service.

Mission

The Legal Studies Academy is a program designed for academically motivated students who demonstrate an interest in law or law related fields. The advanced four-year curriculum exceeds traditional secondary course standards and is designed to support continuous application of advanced reading, writing, oratory, and analytical skills. In addition, students are required to complete a minimum of 200 community service hours, a job shadowing experience, a legal internship, and a capstone Senior Project. The program of studies is extended through seminars and field trips on law-related subjects. In addition, the Academy offers students the opportunity to experience the reality of law careers by emphasizing active learning in criminal investigations and Mock Trials in our courtroom.

Academy Project

Curriculum

Students will earn an Advanced Studies Diploma based on the options available in the various curricula. In addition, all students have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement courses in art, English, foreign language, math, music, science and social studies. Students also have the opportunity to enroll in unique courses available only at the Legal Studies Academy such as: Forensic Science, Criminal Psychology, and Criminology.

All students receive instruction in the following:

Communication skills – emphasis on listening, reading, speaking, writing and thinking as they relate to law-related fields;
Basic concepts of the rule of law, principles of criminal law and law enforcement, constitutional law and the criminal justice system;
Science and technology as they relate to solving crime;

For detailed course descriptions and a sample student schedule, please refer to the Secondary School Curriculum Guide.

For additional information please call 757.648.5300 ext. 85326, or email the Legal Studies Academy Director, Melissa Disher.

Extracurriculars

Debate

Six years ago, Mr. Aaron Pratt took over coaching the First Colonial Debate Club. It was a small group of students passionate about advocacy, debate, and politics. Since then, he has fostered that passion and the team has grown to over 40 active students. The team participates in 2-3 tournaments monthly and has been undefeated in the local circuit for several years, taken two state championships, broken to the final rounds at large invitational tournaments, and have won state titles in three out of the four categories of debate, as well. Members of the team also participate in Mock Trial, Model Judiciary, and Model United Nations tournaments to expand their skillbase.

Field Trips

We are the academy of field trips. We firmly believe in going beyond the classroom experience to give students an enhanced learning environment. Students are offered over 20 different field trip experiences throughout their time in the Academy, including but not limited to the FBI Training Academy, Regent Law Library, Washington D.C., the Virginia Beach Courthouse, the State Supreme Court, West Virginia University’s Crime Complex, the Virginia Supreme Court, New York City, Harvard Law School, and many, many more.

Foreign Policy

We are all stakeholders in what is happening in the world around us. Former academy teacher, Mr. John Sutton belived this to be true as well, so he created our Foreign Policy Work Group. It is an organization within the academy, open to all students which immerses students in foreign policy and sets students up to be global leaders. We hold seminars throughout the year, led by academy students, with guest speakers, such as leaders of our Armed Forces, diplomats, politicians, and more. We also travel off-campus to our Nation's Capital several times throughout the year to meet with our nation's foreign policy experts. Past meetings include:

Former Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld
Former Attorney General, John Ashcroft
Former Director of the NSA, Michael Hayden
Former Assistant Secretary of Defense, Richard Perle
Former Press Secretary, Mike McCurry
Commandant of the Marines, Robert Neller

F.O.T.A.

The LSA, which includes our students, parents, educators and community partners, strives to work together to promote the education and welfare of our students. The Friends of the Academy supports many existing programs and provides the groundwork for new ones. These are just a few examples:

Law Day
Law School Field Trips - Harvard Law
Citizenship Opportunities & collaborative partners
Grade Level Community Service, including Bettie F. Williams school wide literacy program
Federal and State Courthouse Field Trips
Quantico and Federal & State Courthouse Field Trips
Parent Speaker Series
College Countdown: Sessions include Panel of Deans, Senior Essay Writing, Mock Admissions Breakout, Financial Aid

Patriot Pride

Here at the Legal Studies Academy, we make sure that you don’t ever feel like you’re missing out on the ordinary high school experience. We find that the Academy students actually take advantage of what being a patriot is all about, more so than the non-academy students. Almost all SCA and Class Officer positions are academy students, our two-time State Champion Debate Team is full of academy students, as well as many of our sports teams, academic competition teams, and ordinary extracurricular clubs, like Nobleteens, Honor Societies, and more. You will also find academy students showing their Patriot Pride at each and every school sport event. We are still part of First Colonial, and we embrace that. We encourage our students to reach out beyond the limits of the Academy and to be a part of the First Colonial Family.

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