Volunteer lawyers from the Chicago office of Foley & Lardner and the Exelon Corp. teamed up with Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago last month to mentor junior high school students on the importance of constitutional rights.

They worked with students at the Paul Cuffe Math, Science and Technology Academy on Aug. 21 to help them prepare for 7th and 8th grade constitutional law exams. The training session included presentation and defense of a teen drunk-driving case.

On Aug. 23, the students visited Foley & Lardner to participate in a mock trial in the firm's simulated courtroom. Lawyers helped them conduct the trial.

Law firm partner Paul F. Hanzlik, Exelon senior vice president and general counsel William A. Von Hoene Jr., and Douglas A. Graham, assistant general counsel for Exelon Business Services, welcomed the students.

Foley & Lardner and Exelon have been part of the Constitutional Rights Foundation's Lawyers in the Classroom initiative for several years to supplement civic education in the legal process and courtroom procedures.

Chicago Alderman Howard B. Brookins Jr., an attorney whose ward includes the Cuffe Academy, spoke to the students and watched the mock trial.

“We hope that our passion for our careers transcends into a career path for some of these kids,” Graham said. Foley partner Myles D. Berman concurred, “maybe one or more of them will go to law school as a result of this program.”

Berman expressed the firm's delight at being involved in the effort, hoping “to pique the students' curiosity in law by giving them a glimpse into the judicial system and how laws get made and enforced.”