Skyline Magnet High School
Advanced Academic Clusters
LEGAL STUDIES
Advanced Academic Clusters
LEGAL STUDIES
MISSION - Our mission is to create lifelong learners and learners that collaborate for positive achievement.
VISiON - Every staff member and student will increase their learning and leadership and promote a culture of collaborative achievement.
MISSION - Skyline will be the premier career development center in the nation.
VISION - As America’s first Magnet High School, we are building a legacy of leaders by graduating every scholar in college, career, or military strong
Dallas ISD’s Career and Technical Education
VISION - Dallas ISD’s Career and Technical Education Department’s vision is to support innovative CTE programs that prepare individuals to succeed in their education and careers and poise them to flourish in a global, dynamic economy through leadership, advocacy, and partnerships. We are dedicated to helping graduates prepare for a career field where they will earn a living wage that offers advancement and lifelong learning opportunities.
PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
Mr. Hector
Rodriguez
Legal Studies Coordinator / MT Sponsor & Coach
Mr. Austin
Quesenberry
Criminal Law
Attorney Advisor
/ MT Coach
Mrs. Yianna
Lazanas
Civil Law
Attorney Advisor
/ MT Coach
Dr. Martha Williams
Courthouse Liaison
/ MT Coach
Apply Today! The deadline is January 31, 2024
*When completing the application, remember to select Skyline High School Advanced Social Sciences Legal Studies as your 1st choice. Interviews will take place on Wednesdays, afterschool.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FUTURE ATTORNEYS!
Harvard University High School Mock Trial Seminar 2023
November 1 to 6 - Boston, Massachusetts.
After months of fundraising and preparation, our Mock Trial Team achieved their goal and attended the Harvard University Mock Trial Seminar 2023. Our team accomplished this goal with the support of our legal community, which donated the resources to cover the cost. Also, thanks to our Attorney's advisors and sponsors for always being with us.
Day 1 - Arriving in Boston.
Day 2 - Downtown Boston
Day 3 - MIT & Boston Pier
Day 4 - Harvard Seminar D1
Day 5 - Harvard Seminar D2
Day 6 - Time to go home.
Spring Semester 2023-2024
Congratulations to our seniors who graduated yesterday.
Thank you for everything! We are proud of you and can’t wait to see what you’ll do next.
Alumni Association
here we go
💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻🤪
End of the Year
Awards Ceremony
As the years come to an end, we celebrate the achievements of our students. It has been a fantastic year. We thank everyone who has been part of our program and supported us; without you, it wouldn't have been possible.
Our Legal Studies Officers Induction & Awards Ceremony began with the opening remarks by our President, Nataly Velazquez, and the Induction of our BPA-Law & Law Student’s Society Officer, who the retiring officer swore in.
Based on their progress in the program, our students receive a certificate of completion at the end of the year.
1 Course completed - Participant
2 Courses completed - Explorer
3 Courses completed - Concentrator
4 Courses completed - Completer
5 Courses completed - Graduate
Graduate Level Recipients
Participant Level Recipients
Concentrator Level Recipients
Explorer Level Recipients
Completer Level Recipients
BPA - LAW Recognition Recipients
2024 Service Award Recipients
2024 Rising Star Award Recepients
Student Voting Empowerment Coalition
Honors Recipients
2024 Leadership Award Recipients
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Award
Mock Trial Team Semifinalist
2024 Academic Award Recipients
Special Recognition
Nataly Velazquez
Freshmen of the Year
Jonathan Ontiveros
Senior of the Year
Gabriel Rosales
Sophomore of the Year
Luciana Gonzalez
Witness of the Year
Paris Chavarria
Junior of the Year
Jennifer Rivera
Lawyer of the Year
Johana Sifuentes
SMU - Hart Global Leaders Forum
1st Speaker- Jeffrey A. Engel, SMU Center for Presidential History.
2nd Seminar: The Transatlantic Alliance by Prof. Stefano Recchia.
Keynote Speaker
Teresa May
Former UK Prime Minister
SMU - Hart Global Leaders Forum
1st Speaker- Jeffrey A. Engel, SMU Center for Presidential History.
2nd Seminar: The Transatlantic Alliance by Prof. Stefano Recchia.
Keynote Speaker
Teresa May
Former UK Prime Minister
Texas Appeals Court judges participate in recreating the arguments for Tinker v. Des Moines. Moot Court—Model. It is an excellent experience for our students to see judges and lawyers from higher courts in action. Dallas Bar Association Voir Dire 2024
Congratulations to our Legal Studies Program scholars who the District invited to participate in this year's CTE Summer Internships in-person interviews at the SMU Campus last Friday. They all secured their summer internships for their junior year. Great Work, Guys!!!
Skykine’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt !!! We had a great time with the little ones in our community. Thanks to our students who participated either by donating or being present during the hunt for our kids! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
Rockwall County Courthouse
We had a great visit to the Rockwall County Courthouse. Our students saw legal procedures and talked to judges, Bailiffs, Court reporters, and the Prosecutor. Thanks to our industry partners @austin.quesenberry @yianna_law_08 for their continued support of our program.
Legal Diversity Pipeline
Capstone Project
Our students participated in a program where they learned and were trained in Business Law by our Baker & Botts LLP industry partners. Lawyers came to the school for two days. The final project was at the Offices of Baker Botts LLP.
Day 1 - Contract Law
Day 2 - Advertisement
Day 3 - Final Capstone Project - Offices of Baker Botts LLP
Skyline High School Senior Scholarship Silent Auction Fundraiser 2024. Thank you, Gabriel & Johana, for representing our program. Our students met the President of Skyline Alumni Association and the legendary Coach, J D Mayo.
Criminal Justice Forum Dallas Baptist Univ.
Today, our Freshman class is participating in the William B. Dean, M.D. Institute for Criminal Justice Leadership—Criminal Justice Forum at Dallas Baptist University 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻, preparing our Advocates of tomorrow.
Today, we celebrate the memory of a giant and a Pillar of our Mock Trial Team. Dr. Wicker. In addition to serving as the lead teacher in the “Man and His Environment” in the Advanced Social Sciences Magnet Program at Skyline High School, Joe was the proud sponsor of the award-winning Skyline High School Mock Trial Team. His team was the 2009 & 2015 Texas State Champions; 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018 Dallas Regional Champions; 2017 and 2019 Dallas Regional Finalist; the Texas State semi-finalists in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2016, and 2019 and the Texas State finalist in 2006, 2017. The team placed 16th at the 2009 Nationals. Thank you for your leadership, service, and commitment to our students & team at Skyline High School. Your memory will remain forever with us. Rest in Power!!
(2/16) Our Mock Trial Team celebrated the end of our first part of the season. As always, with food 🤷🏼♂️🤪 Thank you, Dr. Williams, for your support and cupcakes 😋
Mock Trial Team
January 2024
Well.. we did it !! Dallas ISD
Top 4 Next stop:
Semifinals.. here we go
We are back at the top.
February 2024
The semifinals are over. It was a great season, and we reached our goal. Now, to prepare for the awards luncheon and whatever challenge may come next. GReat Work Team!!.
Texas High School Mock Trial Competition 2024
Dallas ISD Regional
Awards Luncheon
Congratulations to our Team for making it to the Top four out of 24 schools; it is a great achievement.
Congratulations to Gabriel Rosales - Best Lawyer Nominee for 2nd year in a row
Congratulations to Paris Chavarria - Best Witness Nominee 2024
Legal Diversity Pipeline Volunteers Training
A Street Law Org Program in partnership with Baker Botts LLP and Skyline High School Legal Studies. Our students will be trained in Business Law by Baker Botts LLP Lawyers. Working hard for our students
✅ 💪🏻💪🏻 On the books. Amazing first day. Now, let's get ready for the quarterfinals!!!
🙌🏻🙏🏻
BPA-Legal—Our Legal Studies chapter of Business Professionals of America is ready for a day of conferences and competitions.
Good Luck to all our competitors
BPA Area 1 - Region 2 Conference 2024
💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
Ricardo Concha - 2nd place Business Law & Ethics
Jessica Romo - Top 5 Ethics & Professionalism
April Pedraza - Top 5 Legal Office Management
1st Scrimmage of the season is on the books. ✅ Thank You! Centennial High School for your collaboration. 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
2nd Scrimmage ✅ 2024 Season - Creekview High School - Carrolton- Farmers Branch ISD. Great Work everyone 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
Fall Semester 2023-2024
Our first Mock Trial Practice at the courtroom - George Allen Courthouse 134th Civil District Court
Mock Trial 🤫 Santa 🎄🎁! Skyline High School Mock Trial Team wishes everybody a very happy holiday break!
Our Mock Trial Juniors and Sophomores brought presents to our Seniors to celebrate their contributions to our team. Also, we celebrate our Best Witness and Social Media Manager on her 18th birthday. We are a family!
Congratulations
and Thank You!
We thank Mr. Justin Schofield for connecting with Mizzen + Main and The Youth Justice Alliance for donating such great shirts to our Mock Trial Team boys for their upcoming competitions.
"Conversation with our Leaders" Series 1st Speaker, and our Traditional Thanksgiving Putlock
For our First Speaker, we introduce to the cluster our Attorney Advisor, Mr. A. Qusenberry -A Criminal Defense Lawyer who coaches our Mock Trial Team and advises our program. Afterward, our kids enjoy an afternoon of camaraderie and fun.
November 2023
Fresmens take up the courtroom to begin practicing their public speaking skills with the assistance of our experienced seniors and Mock Trial lawyers.
Our Mock Trial Team new members attended the 2023-204 MT clinic at the George Allen Courthouse.
Skyline continues its tradition of bringing the spirit of Halloween to our community families and kids. Our students, as always, were present to share their joy.
Our students celebrating Homecoming Week dress in cowboy outfits and showcasing their mums.
SMU Dedman School of Law
Texas public defense providers and experts discuss the current state of public defense in Texas and share advice on building a successful career as an attorney dedicated to providing public defense services.
Thank you to PWR WMN for empowering our girls through their philosophy, story, and blazers. AttorneysMr. Carrillo, Mr. Schofield, and Mr. Gordon thank you for sharing your time with our boys.
Lastly, thank you to YJA for coordinating the event.
Business Professional Of America - Legal Studies
October 2023
A new leadership opportunity for our students is our own BPA Chapter. We aim to provide our students with diverse opportunities to compete, run for office, and build resumes.
HARVARD Mock Trial Seminar Parent Meeting
September 2023
Our trip to Harvard is getting near. Today, we had our meeting with parents and lawyers.
On this day, we had to say until net time to one of our own, who, for personal reasons, had to embark on a new adventure.
In Legal Studies, we are a family! We'll miss you, Lex. Don't forget to visit.
We thank our Magnet Program Coordinator, Mr. J. Solorguren, for helping our seniors understand how to prepare to apply for college and their options. We are College-Ready.
Mock Trial Team
23-24 Season Begins
August 2023
Our Mock Trial Team had its first official meeting in September, which included five new members for this year. We are ready!!
On the left, Juniors in their Advanced Legal Skills class were practicing their Intake process new client interview skills.
On the right is our first senior class, heading out on their first day of practicum.
New Year
New Classroom
August 2023
In August, we begin the year in a new classroom more suited for our new courtroom that's on its way. As always, our students work together to put the classroom in good shape.
Our Mock Trial Team celebrated the achievement of raising 13K dollars to attend the 2023 Harvard University High School Mock Trial Seminar in the fall by meeting up and creating the agenda and next steps for our upcoming trip.