From Lecture Halls to Local Classrooms: How Pro Bono Work Brings Law to Life

Before starting my law degree at the University of Leicester, I only imagined law in terms of textbooks, lectures, and case law. Like many students, I spent the first few months of studying focused on understanding the fundamental principles that underpin our legal system. What I didn’t expect was how much I would learn outside the lecture hall – particularly through my involvement with The Insight Project, one of the pro bono projects here at the University of Leicester that focuses on ‘Exploring law and empowering futures.’

I first joined The Insight Project last year, taking part in school tasking workshops that brought law into local classrooms. Those sessions invited Year 5 pupils to step into the shoes of law students for the day – discussing real-world scenarios, debating what’s fair, and learning how the law shapes everyday life. Watching these students engage with legal concepts that even first-years sometimes find complex was both humbling and inspiring.

This year, we are in the preparation phase for a new round of school tasking, and my role on the media and public relations team has given me a unique perspective on how we share our mission. I help to coordinate collaborations with other societies and projects, promote our events, and engage with our audience to highlight the importance of legal awareness. But my favorite moments are always during school tasking – seeing how quickly pupils connect with ideas like justice and fairness reminds me why this work matters.

Pro bono opportunities like The Insight Project remind students that law isn’t just a system of rules, but a means of creating understanding and access. The experience has taught me the value of communication, empathy, and adaptability – skills that go far beyond any exam syllabus. Teaching legal ideas to children requires breaking them down into something simple and relevant, and that process forces you to understand the law at a deeper level yourself.

My involvement in The Insight project has also strengthened skills that are central to a career in commercial law. Corporate practice demands clarity, precision, and teamwork from those who practice it – qualities I have developed by explaining complex legal ideas in accessible ways and collaborating with other volunteers. It has been so rewarding to see how the same skills that help a business solve its challenges can also empower young learners to understand their rights and responsibilities.

For any law student considering pro bono work, my advice is simple: get involved. Whether your interests lie in corporate transactions or community justice, experiences like these remind you why you chose to study law in the first place. They build confidence, strengthen your practical skills, and connect you to a community of like-minded peers who care about making a difference.

As I enter my final year, I’m proud to have played a part in a project that not only teaches law but helps young people see it as something they can be part of. The Insight Project proves that exploring law can truly empower futures – including our own.