Street Law goes global

Professors from universities across the Netherlands and Belgium have taken part in a two-day training programme, organised by the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and given by Rob Marrs and Lyndsey Thomson of the Law Society of Scotland.

The Society has run a Street Law programme since 2014, training law students to teach practical, interactive law lessons to schools across Scotland. Each year, roughly 40 schools undertake a Street Law programme and it is estimated that more than 200 Scottish law students and 2,000 school pupils have been involved since its inception. Many of the law students who delivered projects are now trainees and NQs. 

The schools project is sponsored by Pinsent Masons. Earlier this year, the Society expanded its programme and trained a group of Aberdeen-based solicitors to teach Street Law in HMP Peterhead alongside Project Turnkey. Marrs commented: “It was a real honour to be invited over to Amsterdam to deliver Street Law training, and humbling that we have been recognised as leaders in the field by the Vrije Universteit. We know that the professors we taught will go back to their universities and undertake training sessions with law students – a real example of us leading legal excellence. Street Law is a popular programme with law students and the schools we work with, and we know that it makes a real, lasting difference to those who do the courses.”

Members keen to hear more about Street Law should contact legaleduc@lawscot.org.uk