Thousands of learners in England and Wales set to take part in The Big Legal Lesson 2024

From the 11th to the 22nd March, we’re inviting all teachers in England and Wales to start a conversation about the law in schools.

Sponsored by Mishcon de Reya and supported by The Law Society, The Big Legal Lesson provides primary schools, secondary schools and colleges with free resources to introduce the law in classrooms.

The specially-designed resource packs include lesson plans and assemblies for all learners aged 5 to 18. They explore what the law is, who has the power to change it and how these changes affect our lives.

This year, we are also inviting legal professionals and law firms to volunteer and deliver The Big Legal Lesson in a local school.

Since 2020, over 200,000 children and young people have taken part in The Big Legal Lesson. This makes 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. Research by Law for Life also found that just 2/3 of the UK knows its basic legal rights.

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 and The Law Society, we know this year’s campaign will once again light the spark of legal literacy for thousands of learners across England and Wales.”

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.”

Nick Emmerson, President of The Law Society, said: “Ensuring young learners know their rights and responsibilities, whilst respecting the Rule of Law, is vital to securing access to justice for all. Whether or not they go on to practice law, The Big Legal Lesson is a fantastic opportunity for pupils and students to understand how our justice system works and why it matters to them.”

Over 1000 teachers have already registered to take part in 2024. Join them by registering for the free resources here.

Follow the campaign on social media using #TheBigLegalLesson.