Demystifying the law through community legal education – Portraits of Justice Project - Barwon Community Legal Service

Demystifying the law through community legal education – Portraits of Justice Project

Portraits of Justice was an innovative community legal education and art project to help young people in Geelong understand legal issues and the free local services that can help them.

Throughout a series of workshops, young people from a diverse range of backgrounds met with a range of local legal professionals who discussed their role in the justice system and how they can assist young people. Portrait sitters included legal professionals from Victoria Legal Aid, Consumer Affairs Victoria, a Geelong Magistrate, Victoria Police and the local Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee.

Funded with grants by the City of Greater Geelong and the Victoria Law Foundation, and in partnership with local artists’ collective, Geelong Illustrators and the Geelong Regional Library Corporation, Portraits of Justice delivered a series of legal education and art workshops culminating in a 21 day exhibition on the ground floor of the Geelong Library & Heritage Centre. The program was launched during 2019 Law Week and was included in the Geelong After Dark Festival. A legal help referral booklet showcasing young people’s portraits and legal knowledge was also produced and continues to be distributed widely around Geelong.

This program allows us to foster creative engagement with the law through art, and also helps to create a friendly local face giving a more human side to the law. We’ve been able to see that young people are gaining a deeper understanding of the legal issues that affect them.

Read the Geelong Advertiser article here

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