Mishcon de Reya is supporting the education charity Young Citizens’ campaign to introduce the law to thousands of children and young people across England and Wales.
Running from the 11th to 22nd March 2024, The Big Legal Lesson will provide schoolteachers with free resources to start conversations about the law, justice and human rights with confidence in their classrooms.
Young Citizens is also calling on legal professionals to volunteer to deliver The Big Legal lesson in a local school, giving children and young people a unique insight into the sector.
The charity’s specially created resource packs include age-appropriate lesson plans exploring what the law is, who has the power to change it, and how these changes affect our daily lives.
Now in its fifth year, The Big Legal Lesson has already reached over 200,000 learners from ages 5-18, making it the biggest public legal education event of its kind.
The campaign comes after a Young Citizens poll found that just 13% of students had received a lesson on the law by the time they reached A-Levels. Law for Life also found that almost two thirds of the UK don’t know their basic legal rights and called for more robust provision of legal education.
Verity Taylor, Senior Pro Bono Manager at Mishcon de Reya, said: “We are excited to sponsor The Big Legal Lesson for a third consecutive year. Legal literacy is vital for business, democracy and justice, but very few children and young people encounter the law during school. For this to change, we believe teachers need free and flexible resources to introduce topics like rights, responsibilities and the rule of law. We hope The Big Legal Lesson continues to help children and young people access the knowledge, skills and motivation to engage meaningfully in society as active citizens.”
Sherine Krause, Interim Executive Director, said: “I am delighted to see The Big Legal Lesson return in 2024. At Young Citizens, we believe that all children and young people should understand their rights, responsibilities and the rule of law, whether or not they pursue a career in the legal sector. With the support of Mishcon de Reya, we know this year's campaign will once again light the spark of legal literacy for thousands of learners across England and Wales.”
You can follow school engagement on social media using #TheBigLegalLesson.
About Young Citizens
Young Citizens is a national charity lighting the spark of active citizenship in the next generation. Established in 1989, it delivers skills, knowledge and enrichment to over half a million children each year through a dynamic range topical classroom resources and immersive learning experiences.
Their team of education experts works to equip young minds with the confidence to shape both local communities and powerful systems. They do this by mobilising teachers, professionals and policy makers to transfer expertise to the people who need it most, making complex current affairs accessible to all. Ultimately, they want to see a thriving, inclusive and youth-led democracy.
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