Answers to FAQs regarding the National Youth Leadership Forum on Law and Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) are outlined below. Can't find an answer to your question? Check out our general FAQ, organized by topic.
What is the Forum on Law and Crime Scene Investigation?
The National Youth Leadership Forum on Law and Crime Scene Investigation introduces the nation’s highest achievers to careers in the legal fields and forensics. Since 1995, this six-day program has offered students the opportunity to directly participate in and personally observe the legal process in action at courthouses, interact with faculty from renowned law schools and meet professionals from some of the nation’s top law firms. Attending students test the fundamentals of law through simulations and engage in debate over controversial legal issues actually facing our country today.
Nationally recognized legal professionals address Forum on Law and CSI students, provide rare insight on current issues and detail the paths they took to rise to the top of the legal profession. Students directly participate in stimulating question and answer sessions with these distinguished professionals. Area law schools also open their doors to Forum students and share the excitement of a legal education as seen through the eyes of law students, professors and admissions officers. In addition, local and federal courts receive students attending the Forum on Law and CSI. Past site visits to the U.S. Supreme Court have included a welcome by the resident judicial fellow. On special occasions individual Supreme Court Justices themselves have met with Law and CSI students.
Who is eligible to participate in the Forum on Law and CSI?
Students attending the Forum on Law and CSI this fall must be in the 10th through 12th grade at the time of attendance. Scholars attending the Forum this summer must be in the 9th through 11th grade during the 2008/2009 academic year.
Is there a GPA requirement?
All scholars who attend must have achieved a B+ average or above and have an interest in the fields of law and/or forensics. A student who does not meet the GPA requirement may not attend.
How many sessions are there? What are the dates?
The Forum on Law and Crime Scene Investigation is held twice a year, with 3 sessions held in the fall and 2 during the summer semester. Students have the opportunity to enroll in one possible session date each cycle. Check the left-hand navigation bar for updated session information.
How many students will be in each session?
There are approximately 400 students enrolled in each forum session.
What does tuition cover?
Tuition covers hotel accommodations, all breakfasts and dinners, charter bus transportation during the Forum (students are responsible for their own travel to and from Washington, D.C. as well as a shuttle fee from the airport to the hotel), instruction, speakers, program materials, supervisory personnel and all activities throughout the six-day program. Students will need money for lunches and any incidentals they wish to purchase.
Who are past participating speakers at the Forum?
Past participating speakers have included:
- Antonin Scalia, Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court.
- Nadine Strossen, President, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU); Professor of Law, New York Law School.
- Eric H. Holder, Jr., Partner, Covington & Burling; Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice (1997-2001); U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia (1993-1997).
- Beth A. Wilkinson, Partner, Latham & Watkins; Prosecutor, Oklahoma City bombing case.
- Professor Jonathan Turley, J.B. Maurice Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law, George Washington University.
- Robert L. Shapiro, Partner & Chair, Business Crimes Practice, Christensen, White, Miller, Fink, Jacobs, Glaser, Weil & Shapiro, LLP.
- Judge Kenneth Starr, Kirland & Ellis, Partner, Adjunct Professor, New York School of Law.
What is the ratio of staff members to students?
1-to-16.
Who are the faculty advisors?
There are approximately 16 faculty advisors with diverse backgrounds. Many will be first or second year law students, lawyers, retired lawyers or teachers. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required of all faculty advisors. The faculty advisors attend a mandatory pre-program training session where they learn the law curriculum and facilitation techniques. NYLF performs complete background checks on all of our staff.
What kind of spending money will scholars need at the Forum?
NYLF recommends scholars bring approximately $8 to $10 a day for lunch, souvenirs or other incidentals. NYLF has partnered with Payoneer to offer scholars the opportunity to sign-up for their own Payoneer 4.0 GPA Card®. This card will allow students to pay for incidentals without having to carry cash or travelers’ cheques. Parents have online access to the card account 24 hours a day, allowing them to monitor spending and adjust the card balance at any time. For more information, click here.
Where will students stay?
Students attending a fall session will stay at the Tysons Westpark Hotel, conveniently located in McLean, VA, just outside of Washington, D.C.
Students attending the Forum on Law and CSI this summer will stay at The Westin Tysons Corner hotel in Falls Church, VA, just outside of Washington, D.C.
