Mishcon de Reya is proud to support the education charity Young Citizens’ campaign to introduce the law to thousands of children and young people across England and Wales.
Running throughout February 2025, The Big Legal Lesson will provide schoolteachers with free resources to start conversations about the law, rights, and responsibilities with confidence in their classrooms. The lessons will explore what the law is, who has the power to change it, and how these changes affect our daily lives.
Backed by Mishcon de Reya and The Law Society of England and Wales, the initiative is also calling on legal professionals and law students to volunteer to deliver The Big Legal Lesson in local schools, giving children and young people a unique insight into the sector.
Now in its sixth year, The Big Legal Lesson has already reached over 300,000 learners from ages 5-18, making it the biggest public legal education event of its kind. The campaign follows a call from the Attorney General, Lord Richard Hermer, for more legal and civic education in schools.
Samantha Kakati, Partner at Mishcon de Reya, said: “Legal education in classrooms promotes access to justice while fostering a more diverse sector. By giving children and young people an early grounding in legal concepts, we can unlock opportunity and drive a level playing field for all. That is why we are so proud to back The Big Legal Lesson once again in 2025.”
Richard Atkinson, President of the Law Society of England and Wales, added: “The Big Legal Lesson helps pupils and children of all ages to understand how the justice system works and how it affects them. Encouraging young learners to understand their legal rights and responsibilities is extremely important, as it allows them to be an active citizen of their community and have the power to make their own informed decisions. The Law Society is proud to support the Big Legal Lesson, which continues to inspire young people, teachers and legal professionals.”
Ashley Hodges, Chief Executive of Young Citizens, said: "We believe legal literacy supports thriving democracies, community cohesion and active citizenship. All children and young people should learn about their rights, responsibilities and the rule of law in the classroom - it shouldn't be left to chance. With the support of Mishcon de Reya and The Law Society, we know the sixth edition of The Big Legal Lesson will help educators introduce the law and concepts of justice to many more pupils this year.”
About Young Citizens
Young Citizens is a UK charity that helps state schools and colleges to deliver citizenship education for 5-18 year olds. Established in 1989 by Lord Phillips OBE and a group of democracy education experts, it specialises in linking political, media, economic and legal education to real-world contexts through interactive learning programmes. Its mission is to empower children and young people to shape their communities, institutions and society by building skills and knowledge for life.