YouTube channel sparks animated law discussion
Abu Dhabi resident launches site to demystify the law
ABU DHABI // Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide have watched an Abu Dhabi resident’s animated YouTube channel to better understand law.
Lex Animata TV is the first animated legal channel on YouTube to explain UAE and international law in colourful, fun two-minute videos. Hesham El Rafei, 35, who launched the channel and produces the videos, said the concept had attracted thousands of viewers from around the globe.
Mr El Rafei said it “simplified, visualised and animated complex legal topics into plain English, making them entertaining and easy to understand.
“The whole point is to share the legal knowledge in a nutshell in a modern and entertaining way, relying on the power of YouTube, without being trapped in the traditional, boring and outdated legal complexity,” he said.
Mr El Rafei founded Lex Animata – Latin for law animate – after discovering how tedious were the legal topics he was studying.
“I discovered during my law schools studies that laws, regulations and legal topics are complicated, boring and not easy to understand,” he said.
“From the ambiguity of the law-making process to the rigid drafting language of legislation, to the 500 pages of the textbooks in law school and the mediocre methods of teaching law, which has not changed since the Second World War, everything in the legal world is complicated.
“One reason for that is the lack of innovation.
“Also, the legal industry is an ego-driven one. It’s an exclusive club where simplicity and clarity of legal topics is the profession’s enemy.”
Most of Lex Animata’s viewers are young students of law and Mr El Rafei chooses topics at their request, “especially during law school exam time”.
Last December, to celebrate National Day, he created an animation on the UAE Constitution, and “how Sheikh Zayed created the UAE Federation from a legal and judicial point of view.
“This video is very important as there is no visual material on the internet explaining the legal system in the Emirates,” Mr El Rafei said.
Dubai resident Duncan Woods said the channel was a “really good concept, taking complex legal topics and making it palatable for the public”.
Mr Woods said the channel was much needed in Dubai and the UAE.
“A lot of people don’t know what they need to know and when to approach a lawyer,” he said. “Lex Animata makes this information more transparent and available.”
Another fan is Nasir Khamlichi, who said the channel was “very important for the public to have access to justice”.
“Lawyers all over the world are specialised but law is something everybody should know about,” he said.
Mr El Rafei also holds a government job in Abu Dhabi.
“It takes time to create a video, especially that I’m doing it as a hobby,” said Mr El Rafei, but he still manages to make about 30 videos a year.
“Once I choose the legal topic, I spend a good amount of time researching, reading and analysing the legal material.
“After that, the big mission is to summarise it and break it down in a one-page script to fit in a two-minute video.
‘ A law professor from Canada offered to create French versions of the videos for the Francophone world Hesham El Rafei Channel producer
“It’s not easy, as sometimes, I have about 50 pages of raw material, after which I work on the storytelling animation, which also takes time since it’s full of details, from the background music to the colours and animation design.”
Mr El Rafei’s efforts are not going unnoticed.
A Canadian channel recently offered him a partnership deal to help develop Lex Animata.
“A lot of lawyers and law professors are offering their support to contribute to the channel,” he said.
“A law professor from Canada lately offered to create French versions of the videos to target the Francophone part of the world.
“A university in the Philippines is using my video in their cours- es, while a law professor in Russia asked me if she can use my videos to illustrate the class for her students.
“I’m proud that we are using the power of YouTube for higher educational purposes.”