Changing How Students Think! 2016-2017 Annual Report The Courtroom is yours, Counselor! Virginia Law Related Educational Institute www.govlre.com 757-581-4056
Table of Contents Chairman of the Board of Director s letter 4 Executive Director s Letter 5 VLRE financial Supporters 6 Financial Statement (November 2016 to May 2017) 7 2016-2017 Measures of Success 8 VLRE Origins 8 Corporate milestones 8 Fundraising milestones 9 Co-sponsorship with the Center for Court and Legal Technology 9 Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition pilot program 10 VLRE coach s clinic pilot program 10 2017-2018 Programming Goals 11 2017-2018 theme 11 Current programs 11 Pilot programs 11 Corporate governance and volunteerism 12 Financial and volunteering goals 12 Planning for 2017-2018 14 Conclusion 14-2 -
Changing how students think Board of Directors Executive Committee Chair Janie Brittan, Esq. (Associate, Paul Hastings LLP, Washington DC)) Vice Chair Jessie Comba (Teacher of Gifted and Talented Students, Old Donation School, Virginia Beach) Secretary Arielle Poe (Law Student, Regent University School of Law) Treasurer Karen Lloyd (Business Law Teacher, Mathews County Public Schools) Mock Trial Chair Catie Donnelly, Esq., (Law Clerk, Hon. David W. Lannetti, Circuit Court, Norfolk) At-Large Board Members At-Large Nathan Green (Commonwealth s Attorney, County of James City) Board Committee chairs Executive Committee, Janie Brittan, Esq. Curriculum Committee, Jessie Comba, Chair Pro Bono Committee, Arielle Poe, Chair Finance Committee, Karen Lloyd Mock Trial Committee, Catie Donnelly, Esq. Officers Matthew Rossettini, Executive Director Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition Matthew Rossettini, Statewide Coordinator Nathan Green, Commonwealth s Attorney, County of James City, Criminal Problem Author Catie Donnelly, Esq., Law Clerk, Hon. David W. Lannetti, Circuit Court, Norfolk, Civil Problem Author Virginia Law Related Education Institute 3329 Doncaster Court Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452 (757) 581-4056 mattr@govlre.com - 3 -
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD S LETTER Dear Friends, This first year was full of exciting new beginnings for the Virginia Legal Related Education institute! Thanks to the support of our executive director, Matthew Rossettini, and the Board of Directors, we not only secured 501(c)(3) non-profit status, but also forged a successful relationship with the Center for Legal and Court Technology to bring legal education to high school students throughout Virginia. This past year, with the assistance of the Center for Legal and Court Technology and William & Mary Law School, and a generous grant from Virginia Law Foundation, VLRE successfully hosted the largest statewide Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition in recent memory. Over eighty high school students participated, with one team advancing to the national tournament in Connecticut. The competition served as an excellent education opportunity for students to learn about legal strategy and persuasive public speaking in a jury trial setting. VLRE continues to look towards the future, with plans to provide statewide, on-site analytically based legal related education seminars with the help of educators and legal professionals. VLRE will continue to host the Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition, with plans for expansion to include new teams from Virginia public and private schools, as well as the home school community. We are looking forward to growing VLRE throughout the next year with the contributions and unique insights from our executive director, board members, volunteers, educators, legal professionals and financial supporters. Our future is bright and we are excited to see what new programs and opportunities will take shape for our Virginia students in the months to come! Yours in service, Janie Brittan Chair, VLRE Board of Directors - 4 -
July 15, 2017 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR S LETTER What an incredible first year for the Virginia Law Related Education Institute! What started as an idea to provide law related education to select students developed into a full-fledged drive to establish analytically based law related education throughout Virginia. This year we provided over eighty students with analytically based law related programming! It is my privilege to work with a dedicated board of directors who work to position VLRE to successfully meet our mission. Some highlights from our first year include, Obtaining Section 501(c)(3) non-profit status from the Internal Revenue Service; Successfully implementing the Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition pilot program with the help of a generous donation from the Virginia Law Foundation; Preparing to launch pilot student and educator law related seminars; And developing our relationship with the Center for Legal and Court Technology at the College of William and Mary Law School. In the coming year, VLRE will lay the foundation for statewide delivery of analytically based law related education. Our primary program, the Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition, is ready to support new teams from across Virginia. To support the competition, we are offering seminars for teachers on how to use mock trial as project based learning, as well as courtroom procedure seminars for our students. I am excited about our future! With continued support of our board members, volunteers from the legal and educational communities, and financial supporters, we can position VRLE to deliver comprehensive statewide law related educational opportunities by next summer. I can just imagine all the exciting programs that we will can develop for our students in Virginia! Very truly yours, Matthew Rossettini, Executive Director Virginia Law Related Education Institute - 5 -
VLRE FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS The Virginia Law Related Education Institute could not accomplish all that it did without the financial support of the following organizations and individuals during the 2016-2017 programming year. CO-SPONSOR Center for Court and Legal Technology (CLCT); College of William and Mary Law School Through the generosity of CLCT and its executive director Professor Frederic Lederer, VLRE secured facilities to run our first Coach s Clinic, as well as run the 2017 Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition. We also thank CLCT student colleagues and office staff who helped us successfully run the Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition at the College of William and Mary Law School. GRANT PROVIDER The Virginia Law Foundation The Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition was financially assisted by a generous grant from the Virginia Law Foundation. The Virginia Law Foundation promotes through philanthropy the rule of law, access to justice, and law-related education. With this grant, we ran a statewide mock trial competition and, for the first time, sent our mock trial state coordinator to the National High School Mock Trial Competition as the Virginia representative. We also appreciate the guidance provided to us by VLF Executive Director Ray White. DONORS We greatly appreciate the financial support provided by the following individuals: Mary Rossettini Dr. David Madoff and Saundra Madoff Thank You! - 6 -
FINANCIAL STATEMENT (November 2016 to May 2017) 2016-2017 Total Earnings Total unrestricted earnings $ 35,045.00 Total restricted earnings $ 5,000.00 Total Earnings $40,045.00 2016-2017 Total Expenses Employee Salaries -- Contractor Remittance -- Rental Fees $ 30,090.00 Office/Programming Supplies and Utilities $ 1,002.00 Advertising and Marketing $ 1,282.00 Travel Lodging and Food $ 3,124.00 Technology $ 626.00 Insurance, Fees, and Tax Preparation $ 1,274.00 Total Expenses $ 37,397.00 TOTAL NET INCOME $ 2,648.00 2016-2017 Total Categorical Earnings Revenue Source Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds General donations -- $ 2,680.00 VHSMTC Virginia Law Foundation Grant $ 5,000.00 -- Donated Facilities (College of W&M Law School) -- $30,090.00 Program registration fees -- $ 2,275.00 Total Categorical Earnings $ 5,000.00 $35,045.00 2016-2017 Total Categorical Expenses Expense Line Item Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds Employee Salaries -- -- Contractor Remittance -- -- Rental Fees -- $30,090.00 Office/Programming Supplies and Utilities $ 966.00 $ 36.00 Advertising and Marketing $ 672.00 $ 610.00 Travel Lodging and Food $ 3,112.00 $ 12.00 Technology -- $ 625.00 Insurance, Fees, and Tax Preparation $ 250.00 $ 1.024.00 Total Categorical Expenses $ 5,000.00 $ 32,397.00 TOTAL CATEGORICAL NET INCOME $ 0.00 $ 2,648.00-7 -
2016-2017 Measures of Success VLRE ORIGINS The idea of forming a statewide law related education organization began in September 2015 when Executive Director Matthew Rossettini met College of William and Mary Law School Professor Frederic Lederer. At the time, Mr. Rossettini worked at the Legal Studies Academy at First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia and Professor Lederer was establishing a trial seminar program through the Center for Legal and Court Technology. Mr. Rossettini and Professor Lederer discussed how to launch a statewide law related education organization for secondary students. The main issue was finding an activity that would generate immediate interest with students and schools. In September 2016, Mr. Rossettini became the statewide coordinator for the Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition. With mock trial as our primary activity to engage students, a five-year business plan was drafted. We are happy to report that that we met our first-year goals for that plan. CORPORATE MILESTONES VLRE incorporated with the Commonwealth of Virginia on November 1, 2016. We accomplished the following to establish VLRE as a stand-alone not-for-profit organization: Appointed a Board of Directors that approved our bylaws and conflict of interest policy; Established a BB&T bank account, as well as utilized accounting software from Intuit Online and established a PayPal account; Obtained Section 501(c)(3) non-profit status from the IRS; Received permission to begin fundraising activities in Virginia; Secured general liability insurance through The Hartford; Launched a comprehensive website, email platform, and corporate newsletter; And approved VLRE budgets for fiscal year 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. - 8 -
FUNDRAISING MILESTONES VLRE received funding from a variety of sources in 2016-2017. Some were secured through programming fees such as Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition registration fees, while other funds were secured through grant approvals and donations. VLRE utilized these financial resources to support programming and establish our organization. We secured funding from the following supporters and partners: A $2,500.00 initial donation from Mary Rossettini; A $5,000.00 spot grant from the Virginia Law Foundation to fund the Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition pilot program; And our first donation of $180.00 through the VLRE website. CO-SPONSORSHIP WITH THE CENTER FOR LEGAL AND COURT TECHNOLOGY VLRE s co-sponsorship with the Center for Legal and Court Technology at the College of William and Mary Law School is invaluable. CLCT provides us with facilities to run our programs, as well as access to CLCT staff and student colleagues and general guidance on law related education. VLRE and CLCT continue to work towards developing and formalizing our partnership as demonstrated by the following: Co-sponsorship of the 2017-2018 Virginia High School Mock Trial competition at the College of William and Mary Law School; Permission to advertise CLCT as co-sponsor of all VLRE related activities; And the submission of a formal Memorandum of Understanding with the College of William and Mary Law School. - 9 -
VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION PILOT PROGRAM VLRE s first pilot program was the 2016-2017 Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition. This competition was hosted at the College of William and Mary Law School and allowed us to introduce project based law related education in Virginia. To bolster this pilot program, we adopted as our theme The Courtroom is Yours, Counselor!, as well as used a spot grant from the Virginia Law Foundation to develop a competition that aligned with other successful state competitions throughout the United States. In implementing that program, VLRE met or exceeded the following expectations: Adopted a handbook with standardized rules, scoring, and supporting documents; Designed a problem in line with National High School Mock Trial Competition standards; Hosted a nine-team competition at the College of William and Mary Law School; Staffed the competition with legal professionals including judges, attorneys, board members, and law students; Ran an awards ceremony at the end of the competition; Provided the ninth-place team with the opportunity to work with the William and Mary undergraduate mock trial team; And provided travel and lodging to our statewide coordinator, Mr. Rossettini, so that he could represent Virginia for the first time at the National High School Mock Trial Competition board meeting as well as learn about the organizational structure of the national competition. VLRE COACH S CLINIC PILOT PROGRAM In January 2016, VLRE held its first Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition coach s clinic. This clinic allowed coaches the opportunity to learn more about mock trial, including how to assist their teams to prepare for the state competition. The lessons that we learned from this pilot program are being directly applied to future pilot programs aimed at educating teachers about mock trial as project based law related education. - 10 -
2017-2018 PROGRAMMING GOALS 2017-2018 THEME VLRE s theme for 2017-2018 is Embrace the Lawyer in You! focusing on our commitment to expanding the Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition as a model of project based learning for law related education. We will work to help students and educators experience project based law related education and understand the value of that activity to their overall education. Embrace the Lawyer in You! CURRENT PROGRAMS VLRE plans to host the Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition on March 8 th and 9 th of 2018 at the College of William and Mary Law School. This year s problem is a civil case based on relevant Virginia law and procedure. Based on our prior experience, as well as what we learned at the National High School Mock Trial Competition, VLRE has made changes to the upcoming state competition including offering online registration, releasing the problem on September 1, 2017, and holding the competition in early March on a Friday and Saturday. We are excited as schools and individuals respond positively to our direction with the competition. PILOT PROGRAMS VLRE will launch two pilot programs this year designed to support the growth of the Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition throughout Virginia. Our first program is Introduction to Mock Trial as Project Based Learning. This program introduces high school educators to the Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition as a model of project based learning. Topics covered include understanding mock trial as project based learning, incorporating guidance from the legal community, and as well as what skills are needed to understand the problem, formulate a solution, and present that solution in an authentic learning environment (the American courtroom). - 11 -
PILOT PROGRAMS (continued) Our second pilot program is Civil Courtroom Procedure. This twoday interactive student program immerses students in civil courtroom procedure. After students learn the basics of the civil courtroom via online lectures, students learn trial techniques aimed not at winning a mock trial competition, but instead at winning a case for their client. Students explore the reasons why we resolve disputes with civil trials, whether a trial is the best way to settle a dispute, and the role and responsibilities of attorneys in. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND VOLUNTEERISM Pursuant to our bylaws, VLRE will add five at-large members to our board of directors in 2018. With the addition of these at-large members, the VLRE board will reach its capacity at eleven members. In anticipation of the upcoming at-large elections, VLRE appointed professionals from both of both the legal and educational community as non-voting members. We hope that our members will join our board in 2018 and help VLRE further the cause of analytically based law related education. VLRE will also work to encourage individuals to join us as members this year. Through our programming, VLRE hosts volunteers from bench, the bar, the law school community, and the educational community. We will work to expand our list of volunteers so that our programming is supported throughout the commonwealth. FINANCIAL AND VOLUNTEERING GOALS This year, VLRE will develop a solid foundation needed to expand law related education in Virginia. First and foremost, VLRE envisions a need to establish itself as a viable resource for just this purpose. This includes exploration of a full-time staff, to include at least a full time executive director, to offer a variety of programming throughout Virginia. VLRE will work to achieve this goal in three ways. - 12 -
Key Stakeholders: VLRE will continue to work with the College of William and Mary Law School and the Center for Legal and Court Technology, including working towards executing a Memorandum of Understanding with the college. Through the support of the College of William and Mary Law School, VLRE can secure facilities for our programming, as well as rely on the school as a scholarly legal anchor in furthering our law related educational mission. In addition, we aspire to expand relations with existing and potential new key stakeholders during our upcoming 1 st annual retreat. This retreat is currently scheduled to be held on August 19, 2018. The objective is to allow all those we can fathom that would have an interest and/or stake in our mission to help us devise a strategic game plan to achieve our mission by extending an invitation for them to participate. Grant Funding: VLRE will also continue to pursue grant funding from the Virginia Law Foundation. Last year VLRE received a $5,000.00 spot grant from the foundation s executive director. This year, VLRE will apply for a full grant to be awarded on June 1, 2018. The purpose for this grant is to allow VLRE to hire staff and offer programming statewide in 2018-2019. VLRE s mission aligns with the mission of the Virginia Law Foundation. This is evident in that our goal align s with the foundation s goal to, cultivate an appreciation and understanding of the Rule of Law in society as a foundation of peace, stability, and prosperity. As such, both organizations can work to provide Virginia students with analytically based law related education. - 13 -
Expansion of Potential Sources of Revenue: VLRE will further work to secure sponsorships and donations. Sponsorships and donations allow VLRE to support educational programming. The foundation of our plea is that our programming will directly impact the legal community by fostering an understanding of the law and legal procedure. More importantly, it inspires Virginia students to pursue a law related career, whether it be as an attorney, law enforcement officer, court personnel, legal assistant, or paralegal. In addition, all contacts for potential sponsorships have the potential to secure increased volunteerism, as well as open the door to new and excited law related educational opportunities! PLANNING FOR 2017-2018 VLRE will hold our first planning retreat at the College of William and Mary Law School on August 19, 2017. As previously stated, VLRE recognizes the importance of involving all stakeholders. Please contact our Chair Janie Brittan at jbrittan@paulhastings.com if you would like to help us plan or the upcoming year. CONCLUSION VLRE looks forward to working with the legal community, educators, and, most importantly, students, as we expand our ability to offer law related educational opportunities to students in Virginia. Thank you Everyone! If you have any questions please contact Executive Director Matthew Rossettini at mattr@govlre.com or by telephone at 757-581-4056. - 14 -