The Roanoke Bar Association is partnering with the Salem-Roanoke County Bar Association to plan and implement the 2011 Rule of Law Project for Roanoke City, Roanoke County, and Salem middle schools. 

The Rule of Law Project was initiated by the Virginia Bar Association to better educate middle school students in Virginia about the rule of law in America, and the need to protect it in order to preserve the rights and freedoms we enjoy as American citizens.  The program is consistent with the Virginia Standards of Learning.

The Rule of Law Project is simple.  Volunteer lawyers and judges will be matched with teachers to lead a discussion about the rule of law in the classroom on Monday, October 24, 2011.  Each class is 40 to 55 minutes long, and will begin with a ten-minute video featuring Chief Justice Leroy Hassell, Senior Justice Elizabeth Lacy, Former Governor Gerald Baliles and others talking about the rule of law.  The teachers have developed lesson plans to help guide the discussion about what the rule of law means and how it works. 

There are 69 classes in the three school districts. You may volunteer to participate in one class, multiple classes, or all the classes taught by one teacher. 

A training session will be held for anyone who hasn't participated before or for anyone who just wants a refresher course.  To attend the training session, we ask that you register below. To register to participate at the schools, please go to our online registration system to choose your class(es).  When you first register online for classes, you are asked for a login and password. If you particpated last year, you may register as a returning user. If you are new to the program, you may use any login and password that you wish.

For more information about the Rule of Law Project, contact:

H. Timothy Isaacs
VBA Education Coordinator
timisaacs7@yahoo.com
540-353-9807