Liverpool School appeals to city's lawyers Friday, 14th May 2010
Students and teachers at Liverpool’s Belvedere Academy are looking for local law firms to join them in the classroom to take part in Local Lawyers in Schools.
Sarah Carroll, Head of Citizenship at the school commented: ‘Learning about the law is an important part of the curriculum but it can be a challenging area to make interesting and engaging. Having real life experts working with the students would really help bring the legal system to life and highlight how interesting and relevant the law is.
‘In the past the students have responded particularly well to visits from local magistrates who spoke about the criminal justice system. Therefore we’d like to build on this by looking at other important areas of the legal system like people’s rights as consumers and employees, and topics like human rights.’
Project Officer, David Raeburn of the Citizenship Foundation said: ‘We’re delighted to see lawyers across the country using our materials in schools, recognising the valuable contribution they can make to their local community. Liverpool’s schools are still waiting for the first firm in the area to join the scheme and support their local students and we would welcome any law firms in the area interested in signing-up.’
The school has a history of former pupils going on to have careers in law and the scheme offers a valuable opportunity for students to interact with professionals in the field while learning about an important part of our society. Dame Rose Heilbron, a former student at the school, became the first woman to become a QC and was the first female judge to sit at the Old Bailey. The scheme could build on the school’s history by inspiring Liverpool’s next generation of lawyers and barristers.
Lawyers interested in the scheme should get in touch with David Raeburn on 020 7566 4157 or locallawyers@citizenshipfoundation.org.uk
Local Lawyers in Schools website featured in Law Society Gazette Thursday, 25th February 2010
The recently launched Local Lawyers in Schools website was featured in this week's Law Society Gazette. The team here at the Citizenship Foundation are delighted with the new site and hope that it will help to promote the opportunity to potential new law firms that can join the scheme to partner with their local schools.
Benefits of Lawyers in Schools schemes highlighted in article Friday, 19th February 2010
David Lammy MP, Minister of State for Higher Education and Intellectual Property, notes the role Lawyers in Schools schemes play in breaking down barriers and fostering ambition at an early age.
The article, featured in Legal Week, can be read in full at:
http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/blog-post/1592830/creating-level-playing-field-law
Article on social mobility in the legal profession highlights Lawyers in Schools and other Citizenship Foundation projects Thursday, 11th February 2010
Pat McFadden, Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills, highlights Lawyers in Schools and other Citizenship Foundation projects in an interesting article on social mobility within the legal profession.
The article, 'Breaking the Class Ceiling' can be read in full at:
http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/opinion/columnists/tackling-social-immobility-legal-profession
Yorkshire firm takes Local Lawyers in Schools materials into new area Monday, 14th December 2009
Yorkshire based firm, Ware & Kay LLP, have become the latest firm to join the Citizenship Foundation's Local Lawyers in Schools scheme. Volunteers from their York office are set to be trained early in the new year before heading out into the classroom to deliver the sessions at a local school. The Citizenship Foundation are delighted to be working with Ware & Kay LLP on the project and are especially pleased that the firm will be the first organisation to be running the scheme in York.
Citizenship Foundation celebrates its 20th Birthday! Monday, 30th November 2009
In the 20 years since its establishment, the Citizenship Foundation has been an innovator in its field, making citizenship education accessible and relevant to hundreds of thousands of young people.
The Citizenship Foundation has progressed enormously since it was founded with the support of the Law Society Charity, among others. The work of the Foundation reaches approximately 60,000 young people a year, and we have continued to innovate ways of delivering citizenship education and opportunities for positive social engagement.
While proud of our achievements, we have no desire to rest on our laurels as we are brimming with ideas and enthusiasm for the future. Lawyers in Schools is already at the forefront of Public Legal Education in the UK, and as this area develops, we will continue to develop best practices for teaching the law to young people, pioneer new teaching models and activities, and bring our exciting project to ever more students nationally and internationally.
To celebrate our 20th year we are publishing blogs and videos giving an insight into the thoughts of the Citizenship Foundation staff. To view these videos and participate in the discussions please click here.
Local Lawyers in Schools welcomes its first law firm! Thursday, 1st January 2009
Brighton based law firm, Mayo Wynne Baxter have become the first firm to join Local Lawyers in Schools, a new project from the Citizenship Foundation.
Lawyers from the firm will shortly be trained on how to run the scheme and work with young people ahead of them going into a local school to lead sessions with students on a range of legal topics including Human Rights, Police Powers and Consumer Law.
The Citizenship Foundation are delighted to be working with the firm to pilot Local Lawyers in Schools and are confident that the sessions will be a great success.