Law Beyond the Lecture Hall: Inside LSE's Street Law Programme

Introduction, by Anna Pang

The Street Law initiative is a global education program that aims to increase legal literacy and empower different communities through advancing the accessibility of legal-related education.  

Over the past year, the LSE Street Law Programme delivered sessions to 4 Sixth-Form colleges across London in collaboration with the Southwark Schools Learning Partnership (SSLP). It was especially important for us to designate a part of our outreach to Sixth-Form students, as we wanted to help young people learn more about legal concepts that closely impact their daily lives. Our programme aims to increase students’ understanding of how practical aspects of the law can be applied to better equip them in light of the ever-changing legal and social landscape. 

30 LSE Law student volunteers, split into 4 groups, delivered 3 one-hour sessions to each partnering school. Each volunteer group was tasked with designing lesson plans, PowerPoint presentations and interactive learning materials to supplement their sessions.

Designing a Streetlaw Curriculum, by Ashlee Kwan

When choosing a topic, we wanted something that would feel immediately relevant rather than abstract. We ended up with 3 main topics: Introduction to the legal system, employment law, and digital safety. A lot of law can seem distant to teenagers, but many young people at secondary school age are working part-time or are chronically on social media, and yet almost none of them know what legal protections they actually have. That gap felt worth addressing.

Having researched the curriculum for employment law, the research process surprised me. What I found most interesting was how the law has historically left young and casual workers particularly exposed. Zero-hours contracts, for instance, have long been a fixture of youth employment, offering flexibility on paper but often masking real instability and power imbalances. The Employment Rights Act 2025 changed that in a meaningful way, giving workers the right to request guaranteed hours and placing new obligations on employers. 

Employment law is one of the few areas where legal knowledge can make an immediate, practical difference to someone's life. Teaching it to young people is not just about the law, but it’s about giving them the confidence to stand up for themselves when it counts.

Walk us through the process of preparing for a Streetlaw session? What challenges did you face? How did you improve? by Aditi Janakiraman

When preparing for a Streetlaw session we focused on ensuring we could present the curriculum in an inclusive and engaging way. We first understood the curriculum and related content to fully grasp the key issues we would be discussing. We then crafted slides and activities based on the curriculum and held rehearsals to ensure we were fully prepared before sessions. The Streetlaw Workshops also provided us with information of possible scenarios we may encounter and how to tackle them to ensure we maintained a professional, safe and enjoyable environment. 

Our first session was successful with the students engaging in discussion and enjoying the activities, taking away many important lessons. During the second session we faced external issues causing us to be short on time and have less students. To overcome this we made the most of the time that we had, focusing on core points to ensure the students were still able to engage in discussion and take away key points on employment law.

We also faced minor issues with covering the breadth of the curriculum and ensuring we maintained engagement from the students in the sessions. To overcome this we made sure to include additional interactive and enjoyable activities in session 3 including the Headbands game. This tested the students on how much they had learnt with some We also faced minor issues with covering the breadth of the curriculum and ensuring we maintained engagement from the students in the sessions. To overcome this we made sure to include additional interactive and enjoyable activities in session 3 including the Headbands game. This tested the students on how much they had learnt with some friendly competition. We finished on a fun note, with the programme being a success and lots of positive feedback received!

What has volunteering for the Programme taught you about the importance of Pro Bono work? How will you carry this forward in your legal development? by Anisha Ng Fui Ying

Through volunteering for the StreetLaw Programme by delivering legal education workshops to sixth form students, I witnessed firsthand how early exposure to the law can spark curiosity, build confidence, and empower young people to engage with the legal system. What struck me most was how eager students were to learn once the law was made accessible and relevant to them.

This experience impressed upon me that a lawyer's responsibility does not end in the courtroom or the boardroom and it extends into the wider community. Pro bono work is not a peripheral add-on to legal practice but a fundamental expression of the profession's commitment to making the law understandable and accessible to all, regardless of background or prior knowledge. With this in mind, I intend to commit to meaningful pro bono hours throughout my legal career, ensuring it remains a consistent priority rather than an afterthought. I also hope to continue engaging in community legal education to help demystify the law and inspire the next generation.

Reflections from the Community Engagement team, by Rachel Murphy 

Looking ahead, we hope to elevate the Streetlaw programme from a transitory experience to a transformative one. To do this, we are launching StreetLaw+, a mentorship programme for the pupils to aid in their university application process. We hope to continue StreetLaw’s mission of educational empowerment through this new programme by making formal legal education more accessible to young people from the very start. 

We would like to thank SSLP and its participating schools for the opportunity to bring StreetLaw to their pupils.