The New Jersey State Bar Foundation (NJSBF), the philanthropic and educational arm of the New Jersey State Bar Association, is committed to the principle that public understanding of the legal system is essential in preserving the liberties that are fundamental in democracy. As part of this mission, the Foundation offers free, comprehensive public education programming.
“Civics, the study of the rights and duties of citizens, is a critical skill for success in today’s world. The NJSBF’s belief is that informed citizens are better citizens. Our free civics publications are used in schools and are a terrific and accessible way to help educate the public,” NJSBF President Kathleen Fennelly said.
“Our newsletters provide in-depth, age-appropriate coverage of topics that affect the lives of all New Jersey residents, and are integral to the Foundation’s mission to serve as the statewide resource for law-related education for the public,” she said.
The NJSBF publishes The Legal Eagle, a legal newspaper for kids, and Respect, a newsletter on issues of diversity and racial justice, three times a year in print and online. In addition, the NJSBF has a stable of civics newsletters, covering the U.S. Constitution from the First Amendment to the 27th Amendment. The latest are:
- The Bill of Rights Up Close, a 28-page newsletter with 13 articles on the Bill of Rights, including four on the First Amendment alone.
- Beyond the Bill of Rights, a 24-page newsletter that focuses on the 17 amendments added to the U.S. Constitution after the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791.
In addition to the publications, the Foundation’s many public and school-based activities include law-related seminars; conflict resolution and anti-bias trainings for educators; law-related materials; a speakers’ bureau; and elementary, middle and high school mock trial competitions. The NJSBF also publishes The Informed Citizen, a civics blog that has tackled topics such as democratic norms, and the meaning of equal justice under the law and the rule of law.
To learn more about the NJSBF’s many educational offerings, and to order free print copies or downloadable PDFs of the newsletters, visit the Publications Page at njsbf.org. Individual articles from the newsletters are also available on The Informed Citizen blog.