More law schools signing up for Street Law programme

More Irish law schools are signing up for the Law Society of Ireland’s successful Street Law programme, the Irish Examiner reports.

The programme, which has been running for four years, sees trainee solicitors delivering lessons to school pupils and prisoners on various aspects of the law.

Freda Grealy, head of the Society’s diploma centre, told the Irish Examiner: “Street law is our legal literacy programme, where trainee solicitors go out to the community, to schools and prison.

“Our trainees get to see that they can do some good and it brings an increased awareness about the law, and people’s rights, to students and prisoners.

“It’s done through small groups using lesson plans that involve games, video, and mock trials.

“It’s about bringing the law to the level of student, to where they’re at and discussing issues that they’re dealing with, issues like consent, cyber-bullying, employment law and human rights.”

NUI Galway has now established its own Street Law programme, while Letterkenny Institute of Technology is in the process of doing so.

Ms Grealy added: “If there are any other law schools nationwide that are interested in joining our orientation programme in September, we’d be happy to hear from you.”