IRMO — Twenty-nine Irmo High School students stepped out of the classroom and into federal mock courtrooms December 11, gaining firsthand insight into the American justice system during a visit to the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Advocacy Center (NAC) in Columbia.
The students represented several academic programs, including AP Government, taught by Eric Coleman, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme, and the This is Escolares magnet program. During the visit, they served as mock jurors in the NAC’s Basic Criminal Trial Advocacy Seminar, a training course for Assistant United States Attorneys that uses realistic trial simulations.
Students were welcomed by an attorney advisor who explained courtroom procedures before dividing them into small groups and escorting them to mock federal courtrooms. There, they observed attorneys acting as prosecutors, defense counsel, and witnesses, with proceedings presided over by United States District Court judges from across the country.
Coleman said the experience exemplified the importance of experiential learning. “When students are able to take course concepts and apply them in real-world scenarios, the learning is so much more meaningful,” he said. “I am extremely proud of this group for representing Irmo High and School District Five so well, especially since we were the first group in the district to do this.”
Students described the day as both engaging and eye-opening. Senior IB student Hayden Applegate said the experience provided a clear understanding of how criminal trials function, from direct and cross-examination to jury deliberation. “Getting to debate and reach a verdict as a jury was a highlight,” Applegate said.
For others, the visit influenced future career interests. Senior IB Diploma student Rebecca Porcelli Rino said the trip strengthened her desire to pursue a legal career and expanded her interest beyond corporate law to include criminal law. Sophomore Escolares student Mia Basham said she found the experience unexpectedly inspiring and enjoyed participating as a juror in the mock trial.
Located in Columbia, the National Advocacy Center trains approximately 10,000 legal professionals annually and serves as the federal government’s premier facility for legal and leadership education. Irmo High School’s participation not only supported the NAC’s training needs but also provided students with an immersive civics experience rarely available at the high school level.
