​​Volunteers are what make any Teen Court run. We rely on volunteers to serve as members of Teen Court in various capacities, whether it be juror, attorney, clerk, or bailiff. Volunteering can be a rewarding experience, and unlike many other types of community service, Teen Court is unique in that its participants gain valuable information about the legal system, get to interact with elected and appointed government officials, develop critical thinking skills, develop public speaking skills (for attorneys), meet a diverse group of people, and are empowered with the responsibility of sentencing teens who have committed crimes.

Reserving Your Spot at Teen Court

Teen Court is designed to be flexible for students with busy schedules. All students who want to participate as jurors must first fill out the Volunteer Application and Confidentiality Agreement to reserve their spot prior to the court date. Available dates can been found on the Teen Court Calendar. When you return your Volunteer Application, you can request the date/or dates which meet your needs by sending an email to teencourt@collincountytx.gov

Include your name and the date of the session you wish to attend. If you are accepted you will receive a confirmation email back. Only RSVP if you are certain you can attend. Those who repeatedly RSVP then cancel will not be allowed to reserve a spot in the future.

Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in Teen Court, you must be at least 13 and not older than 18. You must also be enrolled full time in an accredited school or home school program eventually leading to a high school diploma or equivalent.

To be a juror, no specific training is required. For attorneys, we ask that you participate as a juror at least twice and complete a training session to become acquainted with case preparation and presentation procedures and skills.

Dress Code

Teen Court is a real court hearing and as such, it is important that all the participants dress and act professionally. A general rule of thumb is to dress “business casual”. Things to remember include:

• Shorts are never allowed
• Skirts and dresses should not be excessively revealing
• Clothing should not be torn or tattered
• Hats, sunglasses, and headbands are never allowed
• Flip flops are not appropriate
• T-shirts with large graphics are generally inappropriate

In order to maintain the integrity and professionalism of the program, persons not complying with the dress will not be permitted to participate.