Our Work

Public Legal Education Programs

We believe that a well-informed public who are knowledgeable about legal matters and confident in their ability to navigate civic processes is critical to a functioning democracy. Unfortunately, in too many communities around the world, legal education is reserved for the select few who go to law schools. The wider public rarely have the opportunity to learn about practical legal and civic matters that are pertinent to their lives and are, therefore, ill prepared to fully engage in their communities.

Street Law’s public legal education programs are changing that. We provide opportunities for young people to not only learn about the law but build their ability and confidence to engage in their democracies. Our programs utilize law students and legal professionals to teach practical and applicable legal matters to high school students. Over 200 law schools around the world have taken our idea of law school-based public legal education and have run with it to provide high-quality law-related education to a wide array of students.

Educator Training

Research has shown that the single most important factor in determining educational quality is the quality of the teaching. Therefore, we believe that training of teachers and other education providers is a critical element of nearly all high-quality programs. In civic and public legal education, teacher training is especially important—the teaching methodology must be uniquely participatory in order to empower students to civically participate in their societies.

Street Law’s designs and implements a variety of training programs both in the U.S. and around the world. Our programs provide teachers with both an overview of the important concepts and best practices in their field as well as a plethora of practical tools that they can utilize in their classrooms immediately.

Developing Teaching Materials:

Street Law is a leading expert in the development of civic and law-related teaching materials. We have written two full-length textbooks that are published by McGraw-Hill Education. Our original groundbreaking textbook, Street Law: A Course in Practical Law (now in its 9^th edition) is used in high school classrooms across the United States to help students learn about and confidently interact with U.S. legal processes. United States Government: Our Democracy, an innovative text also for high school classrooms published in 2018, helps educators teach students about government and how to “do democracy.”

Outside of the United States, we have worked with partners around the world to develop context- and country-specific resources for teachers and learners. Our texts and resources cover topics such as democracy, human rights, rule of law, and law enforcement, all in a customized and culturally appropriate way. With experience developing resources for every kind of country context, Street Law is well equipped to create powerful and impactful educational resources for teachers and students.

Legal Diversity Pipeline Programs

Street Law’s Legal Diversity Pipeline Programs partner law firms and corporate legal departments with nearby, diverse high school classes. Through classroom visits and a field trip to the law firm or legal department, volunteers teach lessons and lead activities designed to increase students' knowledge and interest in the law and legal careers. 

This Pipeline Program can serve as one component of comprehensive diversity efforts led by companies and law firms.  

Street Law implements this program with support and collaboration from two national partners: NALP and the Association of Corporate Counsel. 

Law School Programs

Law school-based practical legal education programs—commonly referred to as “Street Law” programs—are innovative programs in which law students teach non lawyers about law, the legal system, and the fundamental principles of democracy. Law students trained in interactive teaching pedagogy teach high school students, disadvantaged populations, and others the basic information, skills, and attitudes they need to thrive as active members of their society. 

For example, in a Street Law class focused on contract law, the law student instructors explain in plain language the basics of a contract—what it is, what it is used for, and who enforces it—to build practical knowledge of the topic. Then, the participants engage in a simulated contract negotiation to put that knowledge into practice, develop their communication and advocacy skills, and foster an appreciation for cooperation and finding common ground. 

Through this blending of legal content and interactive teaching strategies, program participants build their understanding of practical legal matters and develop the skills and attitudes they need to effectively engage in the democratic processes of their communities. The programs also offer positive outlets for young people to serve their communities and learn to manage conflict in socially acceptable ways, as well as a foundation for strong partnerships with other community and school-based citizenship programs. The programs benefit law students as well. Through preparing lessons and teaching, law students not only thoroughly learn the legal content but also develop and practice the fundamental lawyering skill of explaining complex legal concepts in language understandable to lay audiences.

Supreme Court Summer Institute for Teachers

This teacher professional development institute brings a select group of high school social studies teachers to Washington, DC, for an immersive six days of educational activities related to teaching about the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Institute is co-sponsored by the Supreme Court Historical Society.

The application period for the 2020 Supreme Court Summer Institute is now open! Use the link below to apply. The deadline is March 15, 2020. 

• APPLY TO THE INSTITUTE

Teaching for Civic Engagement Seminars

These teacher professional development seminars give teachers the opportunity to explore current issues in civics and government while practicing strategies for building students’ civic skills. 

New Perspectives Deliberation Training

Our New Perspectives deliberation trainings prepare secondary teachers from across content areas to master the use of deliberative discussion in their classrooms in order to build positive relationships across differences.

Custom Teacher Professional Development

Street Law works directly with schools and school districts to design custom professional development for middle and high school social studies teachers to improve their subject-area knowledge and help them use effective teaching strategies.

Police & Teens Program

Our Police & Teens Program prepares and equips police officers to teach young people about the law in high schools and community settings. Its collaborative, dialogue-based approach helps build awareness, respect, empathy, and understanding between police officers and youth.