Why We Must Prioritize Legal Education & How Some Creators Are Already Stepping Up
There was a time, some 20 years ago, when the court system functioned as a purely utilitarian entity in the lives of most Americans. Most people would encounter the courts only when paying a traffic ticket, settling a dispute with the neighbors, or navigating a custody battle. It was mundane, pedestrian to be involved in the legal world, or at least, that’s how it seems to me.
Certainly, the courts have always served a vital role in the political processes of this country, a role enshrined and laid out in the Constitution as one of the three great powers that govern our society. That’s all well and good, but as society itself has succumbed more and more to partisan forces, so too has the court system.
This is not necessarily a controversial idea; even the National Institute of Health reported a growing anxiety among Americans on both sides of the aisle about the politicization and weaponization of the court system against not only other branches of government, but against everyday citizens as well.
And so, we find ourselves in a peculiar, perhaps somewhat unique situation as a population. Who enforces the enforcement mechanism? Who watches the watchmen?
Truth Is Power
It is now that we must once again rely on that most potent of weapons, the vox populi, the voice of the people. That is all a very dramatic way to say: we need to get educated, however we can.
Not to invoke the spirit of luck at a time like this, but we are fortunate to live in the only time in history where educational resources from the most basic to the most complex are available to us at all time, for free. What we do with those resources and how we interpret them, however, is another matter entirely.
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I can’t read legalese, and I would wager that if you’re reading this, neither can you. That is why we turn to content creators who can, in fact, read and interpret complex legal texts for answers. Again, how fortunate we are to be in absolutely no shortage of those.
Finding A Voice, Sharing A Voice
I recognize that for many, there is a bitter irony in the logic I am working through here. Saying “Our country is deteriorating at a rapid, unchecked pace; thank goodness for podcasts” is like saying “Sure, I’m lost in the ocean, but at least I managed to save my cinder block collection!”
The truth is, however, that content — podcasts, videos, articles, and yes, even TikToks or other social media posts — are our best tool right now to spread digestible, valuable information regarding our legal and political system. Ignorance can be weaponized much more effectively than knowledge.
LegalEagle, a YouTube channel, is a great example of accessible content that also informs, deeply and without bias, about the inner workings of the legal system. The channel is operated by American lawyer Devin Stone, and is a great resource when looking for a breakdown of the complicated and often inscrutable legal proceedings that clog the airwaves these days.
Likewise, the Justice Pro Network has just created a podcast focusing solely on immigration law and civil rights; a vital resource for reasons that I don’t believe require recapping here.
I would even consider the True Crime genre, for all of its flaws and exploitation, a valuable resource for the millions who enjoy it simply because it passively introduces legal concepts.
Much like nutrients, our collective legal education should be introduced into our media diets wherever possible. Dedicated podcasts and YouTube channels devoted solely to legal education are the high-dose supplements that are always available, but they are also just the beginning. Fostering understanding and literacy through widespread legal education is the only way forward if we are hoping to avoid the worst consequences of this precarious moment.
Community is key, resource sharing is key. Do your part! If you find a piece of media that interests you, share it with your friends and family. Watch it again to absorb the content. And, for goodness sake, don’t think that you are beyond the reach of these ideas. If you live in the US, the courts matter immensely. Get educated: it’s your civic duty.
