Lawyers in the Classroom

The Lawyers in the Classroom Program (LITC) is a joint effort of the Washington State Courts, Administrative Office of the Courts, and the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA). The program is supported by the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The program provides Washington teachers with the opportunity to request that a lawyer visit their K-12 classroom and present age-appropriate lessons about the judicial branch, with a variety lessons available on different topics and appropriate for different grade levels in the K-12 system. Lawyers can also initiate contact with a teacher or school directly. The lessons are interactive and provide students with a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about the judicial system, as well as the basic concept of fairness. Lesson plans and supporting materials are free for both teachers and lawyers and are easily accessible to download. The curriculum is intended to engage students in active discussions, courtroom simulations and role-playing. Students also use critical thinking to observe and analyze legal situations.

Lawyers in the Classroom is modeled on the Judges in the Classroom program, first launched in 1996, which provides Washington teachers with the opportunity to request that a judge visit their classroom. The lawyer-focused offshoot was inspired by the May 2025 Law Day launch of the WSBA Rule of Law Ambassadors Program, in which hundreds of legal professionals across Washington recommitted to one of their most critical responsibilities: "[Furthering] the public's understanding of and confidence in the rule of law and the justice system because legal institutions in a constitutional democracy depend on popular participation and support to maintain their authority." All involved agreed that one of the most important and worthwhile ways to support this calling is to invest in students and classroom teachers.