Projects
Final Product: SPEAK Legalese
There is a significant gap in awareness about current events having to do with civil law that existed for people in my age demographic. It is important to address this gap because these events and pieces of legislation play an important role in shaping the world we are living in, and they dictate the future of the society we will inherit as we enter adulthood. That is my goal in creating SPEAK Legalese.
SPEAK Legalese is an Instagram platform made to bring awareness about civil law and legislation to a younger demographic. By using a more popular platform like Instagram and utilizing engaging graphics, SPEAK Legalese appeals to teenagers and young adults who may not seek out this information by themselves.
SPEAK Legalese does more than repost news. Through the platform, I break down current issues into language everyone can understand. Beyond that, I explain the implications of these significant decisions so that viewers can understand how the law relates to them.
Apart from explaining current events and issues, SPEAK Legalese also dives into relevant practices and terminology that the average individual might not know. This EMPOWERS the community to continue to improve their legal literacy!
Follow the account on Instagram @speaklegalese!
Projects
Original Work
Even before I was sure what I wanted my project to be, I knew that I wanted my Original Work to serve my community in some way. Ever since childhood, I have had a passion for community service in any and every way possible. From being a Girl Scout, to collecting books to donate to schools in Turkey, I look to community service as a goal to reach in every aspect of my life. Especially since my field of study, civil law, pertains specifically to individuals in the community, I wanted to use my research and experience to benefit them in some way.
The first step was to find an issue that is present in the community in regards to civil law. I started this process in my interviews by asking the attorneys I spoke to about issues that they encounter in their work with the community. All three of the attorneys I spoke to shared that individuals often have misconceptions about when it is right to sue, which can often cost them time and money. Another attorney who works in probate told me that an issue they encounter often is that clients do not plan for the end of their life. This causes many issues for the family because it forces them to deal with assets and financial matters in a time of emotional difficulty. This really struck a chord with me because the problem could be solved so easily and save families a good deal of stress in an already tumultuous time.
I decided to make an informative video about the process of creating a will in order to destigmatize the subject. People often refrain from creating a will out of a fear of confronting their death or misconception surrounding its importance. The fact is, crafting a will is very important, and the best gift that someone can give to their family during a time of grieving.
View the video at this link: https://youtu.be/7c4YfBP5B_A?si=anli2K27CxJwwFyh