Training the next generation of lawyers to design law for the people.
In 2017, an Australian consumer rights group found that it would take nine hours to read Amazon Kindle’s terms and conditions and in an experiment in London, six users agreed to give up their first-born child in exchange for the use of the Wi-Fi services. Experience of the law is not what it could be and there is an increasing need for additional skills in legal practitioners—including emotional intelligence empathy, creative thinking, and agility – as law is not just for lawyers.
There is plenty for these empathetic, creative lawyers to do. There is an ongoing need to raise awareness and increase understanding of legal matters among the general public. Specifically in relation to support for small businesses, there is significant unmet need for legal guidance.
Recognising both these trends, qLegal's answer is to pull together its existing Public Legal Education (PLE) activities and Legal Design-based Innovation Projects in its new "Future of Law Programme”. In both Projects and PLE the focus is on a ‘one-to-many’ delivery of legal services having in mind all end-users’ needs, not just the immediate client/intermediary (departing from the traditional one-to-one approach). This approach gives students the chance to develop their empathy, creativity, adaptability, and interpersonal skills.
Students will receive comprehensive training in substantive law areas and practical legal skills. They will be supported throughout the programme by the qLegal team, fellow students and, where appropriate, external solicitors. Two dynamic tracks will be available for students:
Collaborative teams prepare engaging legal workshops and online resources, demystifying legal complexities for entrepreneurs and SMEs.
This track provides students with a choice between two distinct options:
Students work in interdisciplinary teams to develop innovative solutions for client challenges using Design Thinking. They are expected to think creatively and work closely with their client: from receiving a client brief, to delivering their prototype, research, or advice.
Past achievements include crafting a child-friendly privacy policy, simplifying debt advice communications, delivering prototypes for matching small businesses with support, and being featured in The Legal Design Book.
Students’ role is to keep their audience ahead of the game when it comes to tech, media and intellectual property law. They will curate, produce, and promote the Yours Lawfully Podcast for Queen Mary’s Technology, Media and Telecommunications Law Institute (TMTI), interviewing legal experts, academics, and trailblazers.
Alumni of qLegal’s previous projects praise the programme's transformative impact:
"I have always had a great passion for Legal Design, and qLegal helped me develop it even more. I am now the co-founder of Legal Design Arc, a start-up focusing on Design thinking application in law." - Gunjan Saxena, 2019-20 qLegal student.
Applications for the "Future of Law Programme" are now OPEN, with the programme scheduled to begin in early October.
For more details, including eligibility criteria and application guidance, check the Students area on qLegal’s website.