A NEW partnership between a school and law firm is giving young people a chance to see how the law affects social media and their everyday lives.
Organised by the Citizenship Foundation’s Lawyers in Schools Programme, the practical initiative, involving Hazelwood Integrated College and Allen & Overy, is designed to develop Year 9-10 pupils’ understanding of the legal system and highlight their rights and responsibilities.
Over six weekly sessions, 30 lawyers from Allen & Overy will volunteer their expertise to discuss and debate a range of relevant issues including human rights, youth justice, and legal issues relating to social media. It is hoped the partnership will also inspire participants to consider future careers in legal and civic professions.
Andrew Bennett, associate with Allen & Overy in Belfast said: “Lawyers in Schools gives us a chance to bring the law to life for pupils and show them how different aspects of the legal system are relevant to their lives and society more broadly. New technologies and media channels are changing how people interact and understanding individual rights and responsibilities is empowering for everyone.
“The programme aims to increase confidence among young people at the same time as developing employability and life skills. We want to get young people interested in the law and to encourage the next generation to understand and take seriously their legal rights and responsibilities, whatever career they choose to embark on.”
Established in 1999 and run by the Citizenship Foundation, Lawyers in Schools is the legal profession’s largest skillsbased volunteering scheme in Western Europe. It places legal professionals in the classroom to work with young people on their awareness and understanding of the law. This year will be the second year that the scheme has been run in Northern Ireland having been rolled out for the first time in the region last year.
Joanne Quinn, teacher at Hazelwood Integrated College commented: “This programme gives young people rare access to high calibre coaching and we’re very fortunate to have a team of experts offer their support and guidance. That level of involvement creates a powerful learning experience that can inspire our next generation and equip them with the means to improve awareness of law as a subject and explore potential careers.”