Caterpillar Street Law Volunteers Teach Peoria Students about the Legal System

Caterpillar attorneys lead Street Law classroom exercises with Peoria, Ill. high school students

Caterpillar Legal Services Division Pro Bono volunteers have been creating new opportunities for Peoria high school students through the Street Law program. Street Law is a non-profit organization that works with law students and professionals all around the world to develop classroom curriculum about law, democracy and human rights. Street Law educators take this curriculum, customize it by region and use it to educate their classrooms about the legal system and career opportunities within it.

Caterpillar attorneys and paralegals coordinated with Prairie State Legal Services (PSLS) and began working with Street Law in 2009, teaching courses at Woodruff and Peoria Central high schools. In the fall of 2010, the program was expanded to include Manual, Richwoods and Peoria Notre Dame high schools. This year, 31 Caterpillar attorneys brought Street Law to four high schools, teaching nearly 150 students about criminal, patent, contract, product liability and employment law. The courses are split into six 90-minute lessons and are designed to be interactive and hands-on, giving students a real-life experience in the field of law.

"Street Law opened my eyes to the possibility of going into law," remarked one student who participated in the program. "I was surprised at how many types of law there are."

Another piece of the Caterpillar Street Law program is a field trip held after the courses are complete. Students are given the chance to apply what they've learned and participate in exercises modeled after real-life law cases. Students, serving as attorneys, are given situations and must work with volunteers, serving as witnesses, jury members and clients, to resolve the cases. The students also had the opportunity to ask a panel of four attorneys - three from Caterpillar and one from PSLS - questions about their careers. This year, the field trip, held at the Caterpillar Visitors Center on December 7, was attended by 93 students, six teachers and 42 Caterpillar Legal Services volunteers.

Another student commented, "I had no idea there were so many lawyers at Caterpillar. I enjoyed learning about their jobs and how they became lawyers. It made me realize that I could do that, too, one day if I want."

The volunteers were inspired by the students and their engagement in Street Law. "Hearing from the students that they learn something from the course and field trip keeps us motivated to do this. It's an opportunity for us to share our expertise and hopefully inspire our students to go to college and consider a career in law," said Christina Lopez-Nutzman, co-chair of the Street Law program at Caterpillar. The program was also co-chaired this year by Shiva Sandill, with support provided by Kendric Cobb (former co-chair), Celeste Poole, Nichole Heirman, Shanda Milder and dozens of other Legal Services employees that volunteered their time to teach classes or assist with the field trip. The Caterpillar Visitors Center meeting space was donated by Kathryn Spitznagle, Manager of the Visitors Center, and Susan Morton, Facility Operations Supervisor.

The Caterpillar Legal Services Division founded its Pro Bono Program in 2006, with a mission to provide pro bono services for organizations and individuals in need and to improve the communities in which we live and work. Pro bono refers to legal services provided to those who are unable to access or obtain quality legal services or representation. The Caterpillar Pro Bono program offers all types of legal services, including general advising, courtroom representation, legal documentation such as wills and orders of protection, divorce filings, legislation, education and much more.