to give students a hands on experience.
But it's not just law students who get a lesson. Students from the UT Nursing School play an important role in the event and the lives of domestic violence victims.
Knox County Judge Bill Swann says it's a regular day in court for Knox County, but it's a unique day for University of Tennessee students.
"It brings the courtrooms to them rather them thinking, what really goes on in the City County building."
Each year, students get a first hand look at how orders of protection are issued. "This is a life changing day for persons who are living in situations of control or even violence," says Judge Swann.
For Heather and Charlotte, the experience is especially unique because they're nursing students.
Senior UT nursing student, Heather Dickey says she didn't expect an experience like this. "You don't think about it when you first enter nursing school but when you work in the ER this is something that needs to be fresh in your mind."
Nursing professor, Sally Helton says the training students receive today is extremely important for their careers. "Nurses are expected to screen for domestic violence, so this is one step in helping to screen, but it also gives the students the opportunity to learn the second step and that is to do the danger assessment."
A danger assessment gives nursing students an idea of how dangerous the victim's situation is.
"I don't want to not know what to say, today i get to learn the proper questions to ask and not be afraid to ask them. It's OK to ask, has someone hit you," says Dickey.
After they learn the severity of the victim's situation, students learn how to help them.
"The more experience we get now, today, and seeing those people and being able to recognize the signs, the easier it's going to be to really help someone out in a totally different setting," says Serby.
Serby says learning how to help domestic violence victims, may one day save a life. "It's very rewarding to know that we have the capability to help someone, not just get over an illness, but start their life over, which is extremely hard to ask someone to do."
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