Key reading
Key pieces of research and thinking around the recent development of PLE in the UK, including reports that led to the creation of the Public Legal Education Network and important new research commissioned by Plenet.
The list is organised in rough chronological order with the most recent work first.
Legal capability
Legal capability is about the abilities people need to deal effectively with law-related problems. Martin Jones, director of Plenet has analysed recent research and concludes that a two-step approach is needed to develop legal capability - firstly, one that focus on minimum levels of capability, a foundation level and another at the problem solving stage. This important paper will stimulate further debate and research. Find out more...
Potential for public legal education in adult learning
Research published in October 2009 providing important insights into the world of adult learning. This exciting project was prepared for Plenet by Howard Gannaway and Lorraine Casey at NIACE - the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education. Find out more...
Measuring young people’s legal capability
In 2008, the Public Legal Education Network commissioned Independent Academic Research Studies (IARS) to carry out an exploratory study on young people's legal capability. The study published in 2009 signifies an important new approach to looking at the need for and delivery of public legal education. Find out more...
Young peoples experience of law-related events: the role of public legal education
Research published in 2008 by Lisa Wintersteiger, Public Legal Education Network looks at young peoples' need for public legal education, its value in tackling social exclusion and building the practical and emotional skills to improve life-chances. Find out more...
Developing capable citizens: the role of public legal education
Published in July 2007, this seminal report by the independent Public Legal Education and Support (PLEAS) Task Force calls for a new approach to public legal education with the clear objective of increasing the capacity of individuals and communities to deal with law related problems. Find out more...
Education implications from the English and Welsh Civil and Social Justice Survey
This research by the Legal Services Research Centre was published in 2007 as an annex to the PLEAS Task Force Report above. Using data from their 2004 survey of representative households, the detailed findings make a clear case for the value of public legal education. Find out more...
Towards a national strategy for Public Legal Education
Discussion paper published in 2004 by Advice Services Alliance, the Citizenship Foundation and Legal Action Group making the case for a national strategy for public legal education. Find out more...
Public Legal Education - unfinished business?
Written as part of the Justice Debate in 2002, Nony Ardill from Legal Action Group outlines three different approaches to public legal education - legal information, community legal education and legal literacy. Find out more...
