Speak Street English and Sharpen your Communication Skills (for real!)

Get Spotted: Law

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This episode focuses on the communicative skills developed through Street Law, an elective module for second and third-year undergraduates. Dr Fran Ridout tell us how Street Law involves educating and engaging the public on legal issues. Making messages clear, enjoyable and memorable is no small feat!  Law student, Ayah, and QMUL alumni, Rowan tell us about their experiences doing Street Law, and unpack the communication skills which they developed along the way. 

We’ll hear how Ayah found teaching aspects of law to a class of fourteen-year-olds  and a group of parents gave her a much deeper understanding of her subject. She talks about overcoming nerves, the importance of reflection and collaboration with classmates. Rowan tells how the skills developed in Street Law are crucial in his current job. Rowan’s role involves distilling messages from academic papers to engage non-legal audiences from MPs to journalists to members of the public.  

All three have so much to say about reflection – how it’s a tricky but invaluable lifelong skill which builds resilience and when done with others, leads to greater trust and better collaboration. Fran reminds us that team work is the number one skill law firms are looking for; thus, Street Law helps students become not just better communicators but better lawyers too.