Essex Law School

Essex Street Law

Our unique scheme for schools led by students

The first voluntary scheme of its kind in the country, our award-winning Street Law project gives second and third-year students the chance to visit secondary schools to deliver thought provoking sessions on legal topics.

We aim to give school pupils insights into the law in a fun and interactive way in order to help them understand its impact on their everyday lives. Street Law runs interactive workshops, designed depending on age group and needs. The topic areas are usually related to human rights and citizenship.

Mock trial day

Our volunteers organise mock trial competitions to give school pupils the chance to demonstrate the skills they have learnt during Essex Street Law sessions.
 
During the day, pupils take on the roles of barristers and even the defendant, getting a real taste of what happens in a courtroom.
 
School pupils can also talk to you about life at university and studying law.

Develop your skills

As a student, the project offers an invaluable opportunity to enhance the knowledge learnt on your course by organising mock trials, negotiations, mediations and debating.

You also develop an important understanding of how to engage the public with key legal issues in an accessible manner.

Working with community groups

There is also the opportunity, from time to time, to receive twenty credits for your community legal education activities. The Law and Community Engagement (LACE) module develops your awareness of community legal needs, and the role that lawyers can play in addressing them.

LACE is community-led, and directly addresses the legal needs of local citizens’ groups and business fora, who identify topics relating to law, democracy, consumer rights and business regulation on which they require generic legal advice.

Working in a team and under supervision you work with representatives of community groups to identify their problems. You then research the problem and make presentations to the groups on best practice in tackling them.