Need

While some community college students are being prepared for law-related careers through law enforcement or paralegal training programs, there is no focus on preparing all students for meaningful democratic engagement. Community colleges are the fastest growing, most diverse segment of the higher education market, which leaves millions of students without the preparation to become active participants in our democratic society. 

Street Law’s Community College Program provides a fresh, new, and comprehensive framework for students to become more active participants in our dynamic democratic society. Students study law and public policy issues that affect them in their daily lives and are challenged to identify and propose solutions for everyday problems that they, their families, or communities may face.

The program combines classroom and community-based learning.

• Classroom activities cover the evaluation, debate, and critical analysis of legal issues that affect individuals, their families, and communities. Students develop a practical understanding of the U.S. legal system while learning aspects of criminal, constitutional, family, immigration, and consumer law.
• Community-based, experiential learning includes a range of activities—from individual and group projects to internships in courthouses and legal services offices. The community-based component complements the classroom instruction, deepens learning, and encourages civic engagement.

Benefits and Skill Development

Both the classroom and community program components provide opportunities for students to meet legal system professionals and explore careers in the legal profession. 

The program develops a variety of civic engagement skills that are interconnected with the following workforce development skills:

• ability to work effectively in diverse groups
• oral communication
• listening
• creative thinking
• public problem solving
• leadership
• advocacy

Classroom instruction includes the use of case studies, simulated legal exercises, small group exercises, and analytical thought problems to develop higher level thinking skills that prepare students for rigorous college course work in other areas.

Colleges piloting the program during the 2011–2012 academic year surveyed students at the end of the course. Preliminary results show that students believe the program has accomplished the following:

• increased their ability to advocate for themselves
• increased their likelihood of completing college
• increased their interest in law-related careers

The Course

Street Law’s community college course is designed to be credit-bearing and transferable and may be cross listed under political science, sociology, criminal justice, or business. It is not designed to replace courses that are part of paralegal training or administration of justice career preparation programs. 

This community college program is ideal for faculty interested in legal issues, innovative teaching methods, and integrating community learning. 

Street Law offers technical assistance to community college professors wishing to start a Street Law program. Assistance includes course syllabi, proposals for academic credit, and linkage to community resources.     

The Textbook

Street Law: Understanding Law and Legal Issues is an informative law-based, civic learning text for use in the community college program. The text promotes civic involvement by providing practical information about areas of the law that affect the daily lives of all U.S. residents and activities that develop analytic and advocacy skills. 

The text introduces students to fundamental civil, criminal, and constitutional law principles, and provides a platform for guided discussion of important public policy issues concerning crime, discrimination, health care, and immigration.

Street Law: Understanding Law and Legal Issues (ISBN: 978-0-07-662405-8) is published by Street Law’s long-time publishing partner, McGraw-Hill Education.

This flexible curriculum adapts to emphasize the priorities of individual campuses. McGraw-Hill Education offers the option of a customized text which includes only the chapters selected by the instructor.

• SAMPLER Street Law: Understanding Law and Legal Issues © 2012 (4.3 MB)

Ordering Information

To order the text, please contact your local McGraw-Hill sales representative, who can be found here.

Faculty Development Seminars

Street Law staff conducts seminars for professors interested in starting a Street Law course at their community colleges. The seminars expose participants to the program elements, curriculum materials, and recommended teaching strategies. Participants develop an understanding of course outcomes and how the course aligns with individual community college priorities.

Seminar participants get exclusive access to additional program resources, student recruitment materials, and an online network connecting Street Law-trained faculty. 

For more information, please contact Xinia Bermudez via email or 240-821-1318

Learn more 

• The Democracy Commitment (TDC) is a national initiative designed to engage community college students in civic learning and democratic practice. Street Law partners nationally with TDC to bring high-quality civic learning programs to community colleges.

• White House Summit on Community College
• The Association of American Colleges and Universities is working with the U.S. Department of Education and other national organizations to make civic and democratic learning a top priority for school through      college.
• Campus Compact is a national coalition of 1,100 college and university presidents dedicated to promoting civic engagement in higher education. There is a national network of state-based Compacts as well.
• The League for Innovation in the Community College is dedicated to catalyzing the community college movement. 
• The American Association of Community Colleges is part of the National Center for Higher Education. They represent the nation’s 1,200 community colleges.

Participating Community Colleges

The following community colleges are currently offering the Street Law program:

• Bunker Hill Community College (Boston, MA)
• Chabot College (Hayward, CA)
• City College of San Francisco (San Francisco, CA)
• College of Rhode Island (Warwick, RI)
• Harold Washington College (Chicago, IL)
• Hillsborough Community College (Tampa, FL)
• Howard Community College (Columbia, MD)
• Merritt College (Oakland, CA)
• The University of the District of Columbia (Washington, DC)
• Washtenaw Community College (Ann Arbor, MI)

Community colleges in other states are in the process of adding this course to their curriculum.

 

Partners

Street Law and Law School Admission Council’s DiscoverLaw.org partner nationally to provide enhancements to Street Law courses in community colleges in order to create a pipeline for students of color to pursue careers in the legal profession.

Street Law’s work with community colleges in the Chicago area is supported by Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

Street Law’s work with San Francisco Bay Area community colleges is supported by S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.

Street Law partners nationally with The Democracy Commitment to bring high-quality civic learning programs to community colleges.

Faculty Development Seminar Alumni

Seminar participants get exclusive access to additional program resources, student recruitment materials, and an online network connecting Street Law-trained faculty. To gain access, please contact Xinia Bermudez.

If you're already a confirmed member of the community college online group, you may log in here: www.streetlawteachers.org.