Why should a SCHOOL participate in Lawyers in Schools?

Contents
Delivers portions of the Citizenship curriculum
Good quality teaching materials
Enjoyable for students
Students develop many skills
Interaction with professionals
Raising aspirations

Delivers portions of the Citizenship curriculum

• The units cover legal aspects of the statutory Citizenship curriculum at Key Stage 4, including: legal and human rights and responsibilities underpinning society and how they relate to citizens, the role and operation of the criminal and civil justice systems, and the work of the courts in making and shaping the law.
• The sessions can be integrated into PSHE, English or Citizenship, at the school's discretion.
• Citizenship is a new teaching area, and some teachers find it challenging. The scheme can assist teacher's learning too by demonstrating engaging and informative ways of delivering this curriculum.

Good quality teaching materials

• The materials are prepared by educational experts.
• The materials are regularly checked by legal experts, so are accurate and up-to-date.

'It has brought home to both pupils and teachers that citzenship [education] covers real issues in the real world...'    Teacher, St James' School

Enjoyable for students

• The scheme is taught with an 'active learning' style.
• Small group work promotes stimulating and thought-provoking debate. Students are encouraged to express, justify and defend their personal opinions in a way that larger class activities are less able to do.
• The scheme brings interesting issues about the law and legal system into the classroom, illustrating their relevance to everyday life.

Students develop many skills

• Teachers have reported that, as well as learning new facts and perspectives on the law, students develop many useful skills including: confidence, critical thinking, speaking and debating skills.
• With the focus on discussion and debate, students learn how to interact with their peers and with adults in a constructive way.

Interaction with professionals

• Students improve their interaction with adults through meeting professionals.

Raising aspirations

• While the scheme is not specifically designed as a careers programme, it can be very effective at raising aspirations. Meeting lawyers in a comfortable environment enables students to ask questions and see firsthand that a career in the law, or other profession, might well be achievable for them.

'The experience of working with real lawyers was an eye opener and made the possibility of a career in law seem more real and achievable.'        Student, Haverstock School