Irmo High School Students Gain Real-World Legal Insight at U.S. Department of Justice National Advocacy Center

For Immediate Release – December 16, 2025

Irmo High School Students Gain Real-World Legal Insight at U.S. Department of Justice National Advocacy Center

IRMO – Twenty-nine Irmo High School students representing the Advanced Placement (AP) Government course, taught by Eric Coleman, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme, and the This is Escolares magnet program participated in a hands-on legal learning experience at the National Advocacy Center (NAC), the U.S. Department of Justice’s premier federal training facility on December 11th.

The students served as mock jurors in the NAC’s Basic Criminal Trial Advocacy Seminar, a course designed to train Assistant United States Attorneys through realistic trial simulations. Upon arrival, students were welcomed by an Attorney Advisor who briefed them on courtroom procedures and the structure of the day. They were then divided into small groups and escorted to federal mock courtrooms, where they observed actual attorneys performing the roles of witnesses, prosecutors, and defense counsel. The proceedings were presided over by United States District Court judges from across the nation. 

Coleman emphasized the value of providing students with meaningful, real-world opportunities to apply what they learn in the classroom. “I am a huge proponent of experiential learning opportunities,” Coleman said. “When students are able to take course concepts and apply them in real-world scenarios, the learning is so much more meaningful. 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.” 

For many students, the experience offered a rare and compelling look into the justice system. “This was a really cool opportunity to experience how a trial works and the aspects of a criminal proceeding,” said Hayden Applegate, Senior IB student. “The elements of the case were very clearly explained to us with opportunities for us to experience direct, cross examination and rebuttal from both sides.” Applegate added that the deliberation experience was a highlight, noting how valuable it was to debate and reach a verdict as a jury. 

For students considering careers in law, the field trip proved especially influential. Rebecca Porcelli Rino, a senior IB Diploma student, shared how the experience shaped her goals. “I’ve been interested in becoming a lawyer for a few years now, and visiting the National Advocacy Center only strengthened that interest,” she said. “At first, I wanted to pursue only corporate law, but now I’m also considering criminal law. I really appreciated the time the lawyers there took to speak with us and share more about what they do.”

The day also resonated strongly with underclassmen. Sophomore Escolares student Mia Basham described the experience as unexpectedly inspiring. “I hadn’t done anything like it before and never considered it as something I would enjoy, but I ended up learning a lot and was very drawn in by the entire process,” Basham shared. “Getting to participate as a juror in a mock trial was such a fascinating experience. I’m so glad I got to be there!” 

The National Advocacy Center, located in Columbia, South Carolina, trains approximately 10,000 legal professionals each year and is the nation’s leading federal institution for legal and leadership education. Irmo High School’s participation supports the NAC’s need for student jurors while offering students an unparalleled, immersive civics learning experience. 

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