"We the People" National Preparation Hosted by Baker & Daniels

When the Indiana State Bar Association's office was closed in 2006 because of severe storm damage in Indianapolis, the state high school championship team in the We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution competition was in desperate need of a place to practice before going to Washington, D.C. for the national finals. Baker & Daniels stepped up to host the team in its downtown Indianapolis office - and the firm has been helping prepare Indiana's champions every year since.

"The kids walk past the law library, and they're excited," said Michael Gordon, coach of Munster High School's 2008 team that finished seventh in the nation. "They get to see professionals. They check out their résumés ahead of time, and they say, 'Oh my gosh, this guy has argued in front of the Indiana State Supreme Court. Wait a minute, this guy has been in front of the United States Supreme Court. And this one used to be the Attorney General. Wait a minute, we've got some work to do.'"

In 2008, Munster's state championship team visited Baker & Daniels, and students practiced oral arguments in front of 11 firm lawyers over 18 practice sessions. "Being on the 27th floor (of the firm's downtown office) with Indianapolis behind us is ... wow!" one Munster senior explained. "It's a good experience. It really is."

Each spring, Indiana sends its We the People championship team to D.C. to compete in the national finals. The competition is a simulated congressional hearing in which students "testify" before a panel of judges. Students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles and have opportunities to evaluate, take and defend positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues.

The Indiana Bar Foundation leads fundraising efforts to support the state's We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program. That way, students on Indiana's state championship team can focus their preparation on the Constitution without having to worry about raising money. Also, Indiana's unique approach to coaching its team prepares the students and profoundly affects their experience at nationals. The standard for the practice sessions is now being modeled throughout the country.