Foreword

Foreword to Law in action: learning through scripted role plays by The Rt Hon The Lord Goldsmith QC, Attorney General.

Feeling involved in how justice works is important for everyone. We all have rights, but in order to protect them we must first understand what they mean. One project doing that is ‘street law’, through which volunteer law students and lawyers promote understanding of legal rights and responsibilities and democracy to citizens.
 
I welcome this publication which is an innovative tool. It helps students, educational establishments and other pro bono initiatives work to raise interest and understanding in our justice system and in the rights and responsibilities everyone in society has.
 
Drawing together their wealth of experience in legal practice, the authors have produced realistic role plays that allow everyone to participate, and actually act out, what happens in courts up and down the country. In addition to being enjoyable to perform, these role plays help enhance understanding of the rights and processes in our legal system. This in turn will lead to improved levels of legal literacy.
 
The scripts are easy to use and adaptable to a range of educational levels. The role plays also complement the government’s citizenship agenda and will no doubt be valuable teaching implements for secondary schools.

Last Modified: 30 June 2010