WELCOME to another year of Law Related Education. We are excited to report the following:

• The ABA Division for Public Education is hosting a free professional development series for Chicago-area high school teachers of law, history, government, social studies and civics. The program will provide participants with a broader understanding of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and how to develop inquiry-based lessons that focus on the Fourteenth Amendment. The program will bring together a cohort of 20 teachers for in-person seminars, workshops and online discussions that will occur between October 2017 and March 2018. Participants will have an opportunity to engage with legal scholars, historians and curriculum specialists as they develop lessons that align with Illinois’ new civics standards. The application, along with additional program information, can be found at: ABA Constitutional Institutes for Teachers. The deadline to apply is September 1.

• The Illinois State Bar Association Standing Committee on Law-Related Education for the Public launched into the new year with vigor to connect with students throughout the State of Illinois through ISBA Lawyers in Classrooms. This program provides a unique opportunity for students to learn civics from judges and attorneys who work in the legal system of our State. Through ILCivics.org, teachers can contact more than 160 volunteers, in 58 different counties, who have agreed to talk for free about the law. Teachers can contact judges and lawyers directly, or through Kim Furr at kfurr@isba.org. For more information, please go to www.isba.org.

• Congratulations to Katy Karayannis for winning the Illinois State Bar Association Law Student Division Public Service Award for her role as Illinois High School Mock Trial Coordinator. The ISBA Law Student Division Public Service Award is awarded annually to a law student participating in activities that enhance professional responsibility and provide service to the public. The award is based on extracurricular accomplishments and service related activities during the law school career. We wish Katy all the best in her future endeavors. 