The Day in Court program was founded in 1999 by attorney (now Judge) Stephen M. Murphy, who modeled the program after one he experienced in Portland, Oregon. He partnered with the Barristers Club, the new lawyers division of the Bar Association of San Francisco, to offer San Francisco school children tours of the local courthouse. These tours provide an opportunity for students in grades five through twelve to visit the civil courthouse, observe hearings and jury trials, and interact with court staff and judges.
Comments from Students and Teachers
It must be real exciting to be a lawyer."
"I don't think I want to be a lawyer, I would rather be a judge."
"I especially liked courtroom number 514. There were no lawyers so it didn't seem like they were speaking a different language."
- 7th and 8th grade students
The Day in Court “was cool. I wish I could go there again.”
We “had a wonderful experience of a lifetime.”
- 8th grade students
Thank you for making this a great experience for us. We really appreciate it. We had so much fun. Keep up the good work!”
- 7th grade student
I wanted to tell you again that the students were on fire with their excitement. They talked about it animatedly the next day.”
- 7th grade teacher
Day in Court Schedule
Program Objectives
Courthouse tours for schoolchildren serve several objectives:
- Enable schoolchildren (our future jurors, attorneys, judges and witnesses) to observe first-hand the operation of the judicial system;
- Supplement students' classroom study of social science, government, and history by showing the practical effects of the law and violations of the law;
- Develop respect and understanding of the judicial system;
- Improve the public perception of lawyers and judges;
- Introduce students to careers in the judicial system;
- Teach basic observation, fact-gathering and critical thinking skills; and
- Expose young lawyers to public service and give them an opportunity to help expand the minds of impressionable youth.
Program Description
The Barristers Club in coordination with the San Francisco Superior Court, selects specific dates for the tours. The Club then sends promotional materials to the San Francisco public and private schools containing the tour dates and asking the school to select three specific dates. The Barristers Club will then review the schools' requests for tours, match schools with dates, and notify the schools of the dates.
A Day in Court tour leader (a new lawyer and Barristers Club member) meets the students, along with teachers and parent chaperones, at a designated location in the courthouse at 9:15 a.m. Schools arrange for their own transportation. Before meeting the group, the tour leader obtains from court staff a list containing the various courtrooms hearing cases that day, as well as a description of the type of case and status of the case. The leader then provides each teacher and chaperone a written calendar of the day's trials. The students will then break up into groups of 8-10 students, each accompanied by a parent or teacher chaperone. The small groups are free to move from courtroom to courtroom and watch a variety of different hearings and trials. The leader moves from courtroom to courtroom to ensure that the groups are behaving properly and to answer any questions. At the end of the tour, around 11:30 a.m., the tour leader meets with the entire group at the original location to debrief them and answer questions. A judge will also make a presentation.
Successful operation of this program requires coordination of several tasks among the court, the Barristers Club, and the schools. Because of the court's limited resources, the Barristers Club is responsible for administering the program. This requires the Club to perform many tasks including coordinating the program among the schools, court, and Barristers Club; conducting the actual tours; recruiting and training tour guides; and drafting and distributing publications.
Organizational Structure
The Day in Court program is staffed and funded by the Barristers Club of San Francisco, which is the new lawyers division of the Bar Association of San Francisco. The Barristers Club has formed alliances with the San Francisco Superior Court and local schools in order to administer the Day in Court program.
For Volunteer Attorneys
We need volunteer attorneys to assist with these field trips! Volunteers will explain how the court works and escort students to observe trials in session. The program will be offered on Thursday mornings from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. from late September through March. Interested in helping? To learn more, email barristers@sfbar.org.
For Interested Teachers
This program provides an exciting field trip that enhances your students’ experience and complements your course curriculum. If you’re interested, please fill out this form or contact educationalprograms@sfbar.org for more details.
Teacher Sign-Up Form How to Prepare: For Students Courtroom Conduct Day In Court Program Evalution
Frequently Asked Questions
When is this program offered?
This program is offered most Thursday mornings from 9:15 a.m. until about 12:00 noon from September through March.
Where do we meet?
The attorney tour guide will meet the student group at the new San Francisco County Courthouse, located at 400 McAllister Street (between Van Ness and Polk Street, across from City Hall), at 9:15 a.m. Usually you will meet in room 617 on the 6th Floor.
What will my students get out of this?
Something most students never experience: the chance to observe actual cases being tried in front of real judges and to see how different lawyers present their cases. Your students will also develop a greater respect and understanding of the judicial system, as well as be introduced to careers available within the judicial system.
Will the students sit in one courtroom the whole time?
No, the students and their chaperones will move to several courtrooms to hear various cases. This will allow students to get the maximum exposure to different types of cases and different courtrooms.
What types of cases will the children get to watch?
Civil cases are litigated at the courthouse (e.g., employment discrimination, evictions, medical malpractice, and personal injury cases). There are occasionally misdemeanor criminal cases at this courthouse.
What is the role of the attorney tour guide?
Upon first meeting the group, the attorney tour guide will provide a brief orientation on the courthouse, the California judicial system, and civil trial procedures. At 11:30, the group will re-convene at the original meeting place where the attorney will answer questions, obtain feedback on the program, and a judge will make a presentation for up to half an hour.
Will any written materials be provided?
Written materials are available on the Bar Association website. A schedule of cases will be provided to the teachers and chaperones on the day of the tour.
Who is in charge of transportation?
Each school will be responsible for its own students’ transportation to and from the courthouse.
Will there be chaperones? Who provides them?
We ask each school to provide parent chaperones, on a ratio of 8 students to 1 chaperone, to facilitate this exciting opportunity.
Will there be food and drink available?
Sorry, no food or beverage will be served.
Will the program be offered again next year?
The Barristers Club offers this program on a regular basis each school year.