Videos as a Tool for Public Legal Education

LawNow, a magazine published by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta (CPLEA), has a recent feature article on Public Legal Education on the Small Screen.

It looks at the use of online video by public legal education organizations in Canada. In particular, the article describes the experience of the Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick (PLEIS-NB) and the CPLEA:

"Both PLEIS-NB and CPLEA emphasize that videos are part of an integrated education effort, with additional print and in-person presentation materials playing an important role in providing context for the video-based information. CPLEA says that their videos are usually 'paired with a print (or PDF) resource,' and are often incorporated into presentations, with positive results (...)

"The ease and low cost of sharing online videos is another benefit. As the CPLEA points out, 'videos are embeddable and shareable on social networks and can help spread our message and increase awareness of our organization and mission.' The CPLEA hosts their videos on YouTube, which add another level of connectivity since the online platform 'suggests related videos allow[ing] users to find [the CPLEA’s] material serendipitously'."

"Of course, online video is not without its drawbacks, especially for many Canadians living in rural areas. In New Brunswick, Doherty [Deborah Doherty, executive director of PLEIS-NB] says that Wifi connections are limited, and that during their monthly family law presentations, 'the videos can be choppy because of bandwidth issues, but that is the reality of living in a rural community'."