Street law
Street Law is an approach to teaching practical law to grassroots audiences using interactive teaching methodologies. Elements of practical law taught include awareness of human rights/civil rights, democratic principles, conflict resolution, the advocacy process, criminal and civil law, employment law, family law, and consumer rights.
The Street Law approach began in 1972 when Georgetown University Law Center developed a program that sent law students into high schools in Washington, DC to teach practical law lessons to high school students. Street Law, Inc., an outgrowth of the Georgetown program, develops and implements practical law education programs around the world.
McGraw-Hill has published a high school social studies textbook using this approach .
What They Do
Street Law develops classroom and grassroots programs that educate students and communities about law, democracy, and human rights. Some of our initiatives bring us directly into classrooms and neighborhoods. However, the majority of their efforts, including their popular professional development programs, are focused on training others—individuals and organizations—to become effective Street Law educators. Their approach is practical, relevant, and experiential, blending legal content with innovative hands-on teaching strategies that actively engage students and program participants in the learning process.
When it comes to developing legal curricula, Street Law is a leader. Their groundbreaking textbook, Street Law: A Course in Practical Law, now in its eighth edition, is used in classrooms across the U.S. They've authored hundreds of lessons on law, democracy, human right, public policy, crime prevention, conflict resolution, and youth advocacy.
By helping to improve the teaching of law and understanding of relevant legal principles, Street Law empowers youths and adults to use their knowledge to solve problems and better their communities, and motivates them to become active participants in society.