Law students decode the law for the next generation
Local school pupils visit Surrey Law School to have legal issues demystified by our undergraduate students.
Alongside their regular classroom teaching, our Surrey Law School students get the opportunity to roll up their sleeves on a range of projects to put what they have learned in a real-world setting. One of these projects is our Street Law legal literacy programme.
Final year students who take the Access to Justice module participate in Street Law design interactive workshops. The Street Law workshops develop school pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the law, legal systems and access to justice-related issues.
Working in groups, students research a legal topic in depth, collaborate to find the most effective way to communicate complex ideas and then deliver interactive lessons to school students aged between 13-18 years. This hands-on experience not only deepens our students’ understanding of the law but also fosters key skills in legal research, public speaking and community engagement.
Professor Liz Williams, Director of Clinical Legal Education, says: “Street Law offers students a unique opportunity to learn by doing, while actively contributing to public awareness of the law, its real-world applications and people’s rights. It provides a platform for them to engage directly with the community, explore legal pedagogy and understand the vital role legal education plays in promoting access to justice.”
Importantly, the experience goes beyond students’ preferred areas of legal practice, encouraging them to develop a broader perspective on the legal system as a whole. It helps develop a habit of staying informed about current legal developments and improves their ability to explain the law clearly and confidently to those outside the legal profession. By breaking down complex legal ideas into accessible content, students help bridge the gap between the law and the public, developing as both legal professionals and active contributors to a more informed and just society.
Law student Arjun, recognises the benefits of our Access to Justice module: ‘Street Law presented an opportunity to use my knowledge of the law and apply it through an interactive and engaging session, to empower a group of young people with an interest'.
To read more about the pro bono opportunities we offer our Law students, see: How our law students practise what they learn | University of Surrey
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