News

Aug 21, 2025

Street Law is an innovative educational initiative that aims to make legal knowledge accessible to the public, especially marginalized and vulnerable communities. It bridges the gap between legal professionals and ordinary citizens by simplifying complex legal concepts and delivering them through interactive sessions. This initiative empowers individuals with the knowledge they need to navigate the legal system, protect their rights, and make informed decisions. For law students, it provides a unique opportunity to develop practical skills such as public speaking, legal research, and advocacy, while also fostering a sense of social responsibility. Street Law differs from other types of legal literacy programs by two distinguishable features. Firstly, Street Law sessions are conducted by students, which ensures their better understanding of law. Most importantly, it establishes an empathetic network between students and the community, and instills the values of community work in them.

The East West University (EWU) Law Clinic has been actively participating in Street Law sessions as part of its commitment to legal education and community service. The concept involves law students delivering legal awareness seminars in a variety of community settings, including schools, sports academies, and government agencies. The EWU Law Clinic seeks to foster legal literacy and civic engagement by addressing a wide range of legal issues, including human rights and interactions with the police. These sessions are designed with interactive features to ensure that the audience not only learns about the law but also understands its practical applications.

The EWU Law Clinic has organized 16 legal literacy workshops at 10 venues. These workshops were conducted at Khilgaon Government High School, Apon Pathshala, Mirpur Sports Academy, Dhaka Imperial College, Novelty School and College, Evercare International School & College, Paradogar Ideal School and College, East West University, Radiant School and College, and Global Ideal School & College. The target communities for the Street Law program include schoolchildren from class 6 to class 10, underprivileged and street children, university and college students, sportsmen, and slum dwellers. Each workshop was conducted using various interactive methods of clinical legal education. The sessions were designed to engage students, communities, and individuals through interactive activities, role-plays, discussions, and real-life case studies. Activities also included ice-breaking, mini-lectures, brainstorming exercises, and group work. Various audio-visual methods were also utilized, such as videos, songs, flash cards, photo cards, posters, diagrams, and banners. The sessions aimed to sensitize participants and instill human rights values in them.

In broad terms, each session focused on a human rights or legal issue, explained the concept, relevant laws and regulations, potential incidents of violation, possible grievances, and available legal remedies. Some sessions placed emphasis on creating awareness among participants. So far, Street Law sessions have been organized on the following subjects:

• Awareness Against Misinformation, Disinformation, and Fake News
• Combating Harassment and Bullying
• Cyberbullying: Awareness and Prevention
• Road Safety Awareness for Young Students
• Right to Information (RTI)
• The Concept of Human Rights
• Law and Morality
• Rights During Arrest and Detention by Law Enforcement Agencies
• Legal Aid
  
  

The Street Law program by the EWU Law Clinic has played an essential role in raising legal awareness and empowering people with practical legal knowledge. The response from schools, NGOs, and community members was extremely positive. Teachers and administrators commended the engaging teaching methods, which included interactive discussions, role-playing activities, and problem-solving exercises. Students enjoyed and learned from these sessions, and many expressed an interest in similar initiatives in the future. Many participants, particularly those from impoverished backgrounds, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to learn about the law in an accessible manner. Several institutions suggested follow-up meetings to reinforce legal knowledge and explore new subjects of interest. The combination of engaging activities, real-life applications, and approachable teaching techniques ensured that these sessions had a strong impact on participants. The Street Law initiative by the EWU Law Clinic can be considered a benchmark for legal outreach programs, demonstrating that law students can play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the legal system and society.

The Street Law program is coordinated and supervised by Sayeed Hossain Sarwar, Senior Lecturer, Department of Law. The East West University Law Clinic is coordinated by Sayeed Hossain Sarwar and Ali Mashraf, Lecturer, Department of Law.