About LipscombA Supreme Experience
Each year in the spring semester, the Institute for Law, Justice & Society takes 25 to 30 students to Washington, D.C. to experience American government firsthand. While the trip is required for LJS majors as part of their curriculum, students who have participated in the trip say it’s one of their most rewarding experiences at Lipscomb.
Whitney Vaughn, a junior LJS major, gushes on the interpersonal aspects of the trip. “[The LJS trip] allows you to form relationships with other Lipscomb students that you might not have met otherwise. I made connections with people who I am now working with in the professional world.”
Typical of LJS courses, this trip takes students out of the traditional classroom and places them in a hands-on learning environment. The trip allows for students to interact with Lipscomb alumni along with numerous others who hold important roles in American law and government. Scheduled events include exclusive meetings with members of congress, lectures and discussions with major Washington, D.C. law and justice organizations, and alumni dinners that encourage the growth of students’ networking skills.
One of the major parts of the trip that students can look forward to is the opportunity to observe the U.S. Supreme Court in session. For a class that focuses on the American legal system, getting the chance to see such a fundamental part of the judicial branch at work is an invaluable experience. The date of the trip is purposefully chosen from year to year in order to correspond with the Supreme Court’s schedule for arguments. Students often have differing opinions on the arguments at hand, but also glean a fair amount of insight in respect to the dynamic of the court. When asked about his experience visiting the Supreme Court, senior Tim Wills said, “It helped me better understand the court as a human entity.”
The Supreme Court typically hears two oral arguments per day, each lasting about an hour. Students on this trip get to observe one oral argument, along with all the pomp and circumstance that comes with it. There is an undeniable sense of excitement as the nine justices take their seats, and more often than not students find that in contrast to the formality expected from the audience, the justices have a more easygoing presence in the courtroom.
Vaughn remembers some of her reactions while watching the justices preside over a constitutional case. “They were incredibly laid-back, which showed all of us that even some of the most powerful minds in our government are just real people with real questions, thoughts and opinions. Sitting in the Supreme Court chambers with the justices, you really feel like you’re a part of history.”
Making memories that will influence and help guide students in their lives after college is one of the fundamental goals for the Institute for Law, Justice & Society.