Summer Mentoring in Legal Education (SMILE) Gwinnett began in 2016 as the brainchild of now retired State Court Judges Pam South and Joe Iannazzone. The program was inspired by a similar program begun by Judge Stacey Hydrick in DeKalb County. Since the program’s inception, high school students from all over Gwinnett County have spent Friday afternoons learning about the legal system and hearing from some of Gwinnett County’s most prominent lawyers, judges, law enforcement officers, and other legal office members.

This is a free program which will give you access and insight into your court system and the law. The program is offered at no cost to students who will attend a Gwinnett high school the following year. However, students must provide their own transportation to and from the Gwinnett County Justice and Administration Center (GJAC) and any other locations the program meets at over the summer. The program is staffed by volunteers working within the Gwinnett County legal community.

SMILE offers participants a comprehensive overview of the court system, providing an opportunity to spend time in the courtroom and gain firsthand knowledge of the legal process. In addition to engaging with lawyers and judges, students will hear from local lawmakers who will discuss the legislative process and answer questions about running for office.

The program takes place primarily at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville. Students will have the chance to participate in debates and mock trials, as well as observe live courtroom proceedings. Additionally, the program includes tours of the courthouse and related facilities, such as the medical examiner’s office, the Gwinnett County Detention Center, and/or the Gwinnett County Police Training Academy.

The program culminates in a graduation ceremony at the end of the summer, where students receive certificates and share their personal reflections on their experience.