Through an exciting public legal education project, Take to Law, students have been learning more about careers in the legal sector.
Take to Law is a skills-based project delivered by the National Centre for Citizenship and the Law (NCCL) at the Royal Courts of Justice, funded by John Lyon’s Charity. The project provides the opportunity for young people to gain real life experience of working in professional legal environments and has three main aims:
- To increase understanding and awareness of the law and justice system.
- To raise aspirations of joining the legal profession amongst participants.
- To increase levels of citizenship, advocating equality and fairness throughout.
Through a series of after-school sessions and visits the students involved in the project have the chance to meet legal professionals such as solicitors, barristers and judges. They also have the opportunity to visit law firms, barristers’ chambers and the Royal Courts of Justice. Through positive interaction with legal professionals, this unique project helps to break down barriers, improve social mobility and remove preconceptions about entering the legal sector.
The hands-on education sessions consist of NCCL facilitator-led activities as well as visits to professional legal organisations. These educational activities give learners a valuable and practical insight into the types of skills a legal professional must possess. Throughout the project students take part in challenging tasks such as; negotiating lucrative deals for their ‘clients’, writing letters of advice and preparing submissions to be delivered in court before a judge. In the penultimate workshop students enact a mock trial of their own creation in a real working courtroom at the Royal Courts of Justice.
During the project students are able to experience a professional environment with visits to various legal firms which have so far included 39 Essex Chambers, Quadrant Chambers, and Bates Wells Braithwaite. Legal professionals from other London firms and members of the judiciary have also taken part to help mentor the students and support their learning.
“The project made me realise my interest in pursuing a career in Law. The project has also given me the opportunity to sign up to other projects that will be good for my CV in the future” Harisson, Year 10 student.
Participants develop a variety of important life skills through involvement in Take to Law including analysis, confidence, public speaking, the ability to influence and persuade, debating, attention to detail, research and interpretation, communicative skills, team work and negotiating. The project culminates with the students creating a resource to be shared with the rest of their school; focusing on legal careers and what have they learnt about the justice system. All participants also have the opportunity to sign up for NCCL’s London Youth Panel, launching next year.
The students that have taken part so far have displayed great enthusiasm and aptitude in tackling the tasks given to them, but it’s not only schoolchildren who have been enjoying the project… Kate Shearer, solicitor at Bates Wells Braithwaite said: “I really enjoyed it and hope that the kids did too; they were a lovely group of people and had plenty of good ideas. Today was the type of thing I wish I had done when I was 15!”
It is generally agreed that learning outside the classroom broadens horizons and enables active learning which deepens understanding. Teachers, legal professionals and NCCL facilitators involved in Take to Law have all seen the transformative affect the project has had on many of the individuals who have participated.
Schools or law firms that are interested in engaging with this inspiring project should contact Tom Jewkes at NCCL on 0207 947 7047 or email london@nccl.org.uk. This project is delivered completely free of charge to eligible schools in Camden, City of London, Kensington and Chelsea, Ealing and Westminster.
