Street Law in
Community Colleges
A law-based civic learning program
for community colleges
What is Street Law?
• Street Law is practical law –
the law people need to know
in their everyday lives, on
the streets, and in the
communities where they live.
• Street Law, Inc. develops law,
democracy, and human rights
education programs
throughout the U.S. and
around the world.
www.streetlaw.org/communitycollege
What is Street Law? (cont.)
• Street Law, Inc. is an outgrowth of a clinical program
developed at Georgetown Law School in the 1970s, in
which law students teach interactive lessons about law
and public policy to high school students.
• Today, more than 75 U.S. law schools offer Street Law
programs. Participating law students teach in classroom
and community-based settings.
• Special Street Law programs have been developed for
vulnerable youth populations.
• Street Law staff have worked in all states and in more
than 40 countries.
www.streetlaw.org/communitycollege
Street Law in Community Colleges
• A law-based civics program
provides community college
students with innovative
classroom and communitybased learning. The program
develops problem solving,
advocacy, and leadership
skills; and promotes
community awareness and
participation.
• Credit-courses: credits transfer
to four year institutions;
satisfies a social science or
humanities requirement.
• May be cross listed in
sociology, political science,
business, and criminal justice.
www.streetlaw.org/communitycollege
Street Law in Community Colleges (cont.)
• Substantive focus on emerging interdisciplinary topics not
covered in depth in any single course, including:
– Family law
– Immigration law
– Housing law
– Consumer law
– Employment law
• Deepens knowledge of community agencies; how government
works at local, state, and federal levels; and the roles of
private organizations in the legal process.
www.streetlaw.org/communitycollege
Why This Course Matters
•
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Promotes student
involvement in local
community issues
Flexible curriculum that
adapts to emphasize current
priorities of each campus
Greater experiential learning
opportunities create a more
meaningful college learning
experience
Expected increase in
emphasis on civic learning in
higher education nationwide
Street Law representatives meet with
White House director of public
outreach Will Jawando to discuss
Street Law's community college
initiative.
www.streetlaw.org/communitycollege
Law-Related Careers
• Students participating in
the civic learning program
meet and work with
professionals from a
variety of law-related fields
including judges, lawyers,
law students, agency staff,
and law enforcement
personnel.
• In the community-based
component of the
program, students see the
law in action.
Workforce development and civic
engagement are interconnected
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•
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Oral communication and listening skills
Creative thinking
Public problem solving
Ability to work effectively in diverse groups
Leadership/advocacy skills
www.streetlaw.org/communitycollege
Who should take Street Law?
• Students interested in
in legal topics, advocacy,
leadership, and
community
problem-solving
• Students who like to
“learn by doing”
• Students interested in developing community,
agency, and business contacts
www.streetlaw.org/communitycollege
Who should teach Street Law?
• Criminal justice, sociology, legal studies/paralegal
training, legal environment of business, and political
science faculty interested in legal issues, innovative
teaching methods, and integrating community learning.
• Faculty interested in creating stronger partnerships with
local government agencies, community programs, and
business organizations.
www.streetlaw.org/communitycollege
Supporting Materials
• Street Law: Understanding Law and Legal
Issues, McGraw-Hill, 2012
• Online teacher's edition
• Classroom Guide to Mock Trials and
Moot Courts
• Special materials available to community
college faculty at professional
development seminars:
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course syllabi
sample exam questions
model research paper assignments
model community projects
sample letters to community partners
access to a social network for Street Law-trained
faculty
www.streetlaw.org/communitycollege
Community Colleges Piloting
this Course in AY 2011–2012
• IL: Harold Washington College
• MD: Howard Community College
• VT: Community College of Vermont (Brattleboro)
• MA: Boston Urban College & Bunker Hill
Community College (Boston)
• TN: Pellissippi State Community College
(Knoxville, TN)
• DC: University of the District of Columbia
www.streetlaw.org/communitycollege
End of Course Survey
• Street Law provides each instructor with an end of
course survey that each student completes. Street
Law is compiling national data from the course.
• Surveys from the fall 2011 pilot programs indicate
– Students have greater confidence in their ability to
advocate for themselves.
– Students have greater willingness to participate in
their communities.
– Students believe that courses such as this one will
make them more willing to complete their degree.
– 94% of students recommend the course.
Interested in learning more?
www.streetlaw.org/communitycollege
Contact: Xinia Bermudez
xbermudez@streetlaw.org
240-821-1318