Using a unique pedagogical approach and best practice in civic education, the programme taps into people’s inherent interest in the law and aims to promote legal literacy, equality, access to law, and to teach high cognitive and social skills that enhance each participant’s effectiveness in legal matters. 

Street Law Schools

Since 2013, over 3,000 transition year students have completed the Law Society’s Street Law programme. Originally developed in Georgetown University in the United States, the Street Law programme has been run by the Law Society since 2013.

Each year, over 40 volunteer trainee solicitors participate. As part of the programme, the trainee solicitors attend an orientation weekend facilitated by Law Society staff and guest trainers from Georgetown University. The intense weekend of training  prepares the trainees to teach the Street Law course to Transition Year students at partnering DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) schools in the local community. They deliver the programme over six lessons and cover topics such as the court systems, family law, discrimination law and sexual offences. The programme culminates in a Mock Trial hearing sponsored by the LSI in the Criminal Courts of Justice. We also invite students to the Law School at the Law Society to experience first-hand what it might be like to train and study to be a solicitor.

Street Law Prison

Like Street Law Schools, the Prison programme aims to promote legal literacy, equality and access to law while also teaching high cognitive and social skills to enhance a participant’s effectiveness in legal matters. Trainee solicitors work with prisoners to raise their awareness and understanding of the law in areas such as human rights, employment law, refugee rights and discrimination.

We have facilitated a Prison Law programme in

• Arbour Hill Prison
• Mountjoy Prison
• Oberstown Children Detention Campus
• Pathway  Centre
• Wheatfield Prison, in partnership with the charity, Solas and their Compass Programme for prisoners.

Contact us

For more information on Street Law Schools, contact John Lunney.

For more information on Street Law Prison, contact Patricia Harvey.