History

History

Our impact is great, but our beginnings were modest. In 1972, a small group of visionary law students at Georgetown University Law Center developed an experimental curriculum to teach District of Columbia high school students about law and the legal system. The lessons were an immediate success, and, responding to their practical nature, the high school students called them “Street Law.” The name stuck.

The efforts of our founding law students launched a movement to teach ordinary people about law using student-centered, interactive teaching methods. Street Law, Inc. was born from this movement . . . and this is our story.

  • 1972

    Georgetown law students teach the first Street Law lessons to students at Woodrow Wilson and Eastern High Schools in the District of Columbia.

    Today, this model of law students teaching young people about the law is active at more than 150 law schools worldwide.  

  • 1975

    The first national edition of the Street Law textbook is published.

    Street Law: A Course in Practical Law is currently in its ninth edition.

  • 1978

    Street Law expanded into justice system settings as a court diversion program that teaches court involved-youth about the law. 

    This early court-based program evolved into our     Legal Life Skills Programs, which today serve vulnerable populations by teaching them practical, empowering Street Law lessons.

  • 1986

    First program outside of the United States is established in South Africa.

    Since then, Street Law has implemented a range of global projects throughout 45 countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Our work abroad strengthens civil society by bringing education about democracy and rule of law to young people and marginalized populations.

    Street Law South Africa continues its work today as a separate NGO.   

  • 1986

    First program aimed at training police officers to teach young people about the law.

    Today, our Police & Teens Program prepares and equips law enforcement officers to teach young people about the law. Its collaborative, dialogue-based approach helps build awareness, respect, empathy, and understanding between police officers and youth.

  • 1995

    First Supreme Court Summer Institute for Teachers.

    The Supreme Court Institute continues today. It is one part of Street Law’s Teacher Professional Development Programs, which help high school civics, government, history, and law teachers improve their subject-area knowledge and use effective teaching strategies.

  • 2002

    LandmarkCases.org debuts, providing an unrivaled resource for educators to teach about historic U.S. Supreme Court cases.

    Today, in addition to LandmarkCases.org, Street Law offers teachers a substantial library of classroom-ready case summaries on important SCOTUS cases.    

  • 2002

    Our Legal Diversity Pipeline Program launches; the first program site is with the McDonald’s law department.

    Today, more than 70 law firms, corporate legal departments, and ACC chapters participate in this effort to teach diverse young people about the law and pathways to careers in the legal profession.  

  • 2015

    We play a lead role in co-authoring a new and improved edition of the McGraw-Hill Education high school government text—United States Government: Our Democracy.   

Want more? Read our full history.