During activity period, Marist Law Society members gather in the Theology hallway, room C-210. A relatively new club, the Marist Law Society was founded several years ago by students to explore what lawyers do and what attending law school is like.
“The Marist Law Society is for people interested in learning about the world of legal work and interested in being a lawyer one day,” senior Ella Weber said, who joined the club as a freshman. “During our meetings, we learn about different areas of law, and most of the time we have a guest speaker of some sort,” she said.
Hosting four to five speakers each year, members hear firsthand accounts from professionals and ask questions about potential career paths.
Marist alum Chris Carr, class of ‘92, is now the Attorney General for the state of Georgia. He visited Marist in November, speaking to students about his journey into law and his experiences working in public service.
Students were able to ask him questions and learn about what it is like to work in government and represent the state.
Marist AP US History teacher Jose Gregory surprised students when they learned that he had been a lawyer before becoming a teacher. He showed students that careers in law can change over time. In addition, the skills he learned in law now help him better teach history.
Students also participate in hands-on activities that help them better understand how law and criminal investigations work. For example, in the DeKalb CSI agent presentation, students were excited to examine evidence and learn how investigators analyze crime scenes and piece together information to solve cases.
“That was really cool,” Weber said, describing the mock crime scene as one of the highlights of the year. Moreover, Weber explained that the club has helped her realize how many different paths exist within the legal field. “It’s been super interesting to learn about different parts of law because it is such a big industry and there is a lot of variety,” she said.
The club is moderated by theology teacher Michael Coveny. “I have enjoyed moderating the club, as I get to see young Marist students share their curiosity and openness to learn about the lawyer’s life,” he said.
Focusing on giving back to the community, the club offers members the opportunity to take part in a service project where they write thank-you cards to the Brookhaven Police Department to show appreciation for local law enforcement.
The club also hopes to expand in the future, if enough students are interested.
Grace Lorys, Assistant to the VP for Institutional Advancement at Marist, plans to work with the administration to create a high school mock trial team. Lorys participated in mock trials during college and hopes to bring that experience to our school, so students can practice legal skills in a competitive, team-based environment.
Always open to new members, the Marist Law Society offers students the chance to explore legal careers through guest speakers, interactive activities, and service opportunities. It provides a welcoming space to learn about the legal system while discovering possible future career paths.
