Sociology and Criminology news

from left to right Lucy Welsh, Roxanna Sol, Serena Bandhoo, Jeanette Ashton, Owen Bingham, Lauren Brooks, Shannon McCarthy-Franklin, Zoe Janae Hoyte and Melanie Hart-Murrison

Dr Lucy Welsh, Director of Sussex Clinical Legal Education, is delighted to share the news that the StreetLaw clinic, led by Jeanette Ashton (Senior Law Lecturer) and supported by Melanie Hart-Murrison (Senior Clinics Coordinator), has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award by LawWorks, the solicitors pro bono group. The StreetLaw clinic has been shortlisted in the 'Best Contribution by a Team of Students' category  Shortlist for the LawWorks and Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards 2024 revealed | LawWorks.  

The ethos of StreetLaw, a public legal education project beginning the US in the 1970s, is that law should be empowering and accessible for all. Whereas the traditional legal clinic model involves clients visiting universities or law centres to receive legal advice, StreetLaw takes law to the community. Supported by a 'What makes good teaching?' workshop from Emily Danvers, Department of Education, the team design and deliver bespoke sessions on legal areas of interest, such as rights at work for young people, rights in shops and online, and the law relating to social media. They also produce resources, again tailored to the needs of the particular group.  

The focus of this year's StreetLaw project is young people in community settings, working with The Crew Club, Class Divide, and Friends, Families and Travellers. The latter group is one of the most marginalised groups in the UK and the project developed through Sussex University’s work, led by Chris Derbyshire's Widening Participation team, in relation to a national pledge to support the inclusion of GTRSB (Gypsies, Travellers, Roma, Showmen and Boaters) students in Higher Education. StreetLaw has also worked in more traditional education settings, including with A-Level Law students at Varndean College, Brighton, delivering sessions of a very high standard.  

Talking about the Crew Club, Carlie Goldsmith (Crew Club and Class Divide) feels the work has helped to build relationships between the community and university. She praised the approach of the team: “the students came at this with so much gusto and enthusiasm. That's what you need….to start up a conversation with genuine interest in the young people and their lives”.

Jeanette Ashton, who leads the project said "Being shortlisted for such a prestigious award means the world to the StreetLaw team, who have worked incredibly hard to ensure the success of the project and, in doing so, had a unique university experience." 

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the House of Lords on Thursday 9 May with the Attorney General, the Rt Hon. Victoria Prentis KC MP.

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