Free law advice clinic opens to help communities in one of the UK’s “legal aid deserts”
The University of Exeter Community Law Clinic in Cornwall has been set up to provide pro bono help with civil cases such as housing and employment.
A new law clinic set up to help people living in one of the country’s “legal aid deserts” to get free expert advice has opened its doors.
The University of Exeter Community Law Clinic in Cornwall has been set up to provide pro bono help with civil cases such as housing and employment.
It is staffed by LLB Law with Business students, who work with solicitors and barristers. The clinic is an extension of the university’s successful version based in Exeter for those needing pro bono legal advice in Devon.
People can also contact the clinic for advice on consumer contracts for goods and services; enforcement of judgments; money claims; debt recovery; and parking charges.
Students gain academic credit towards their degree by taking part in the clinic. Around 40 are taking part, working on cases in teams of five, supervised by academics who have worked as solicitors and barristers.
Experts supervising the clinic are University of Exeter Professor Nick Pointon (a barrister and part-time Judge) and Senior Lecturers Lucy Pattison and Kate Holtaway (both solicitors) – all qualified lawyers teaching on the Penryn campus law programmes.
Professor Pointon said: “Cornwall is a legal aid desert. We know many people cannot afford to pay for the services of a solicitor and this new clinic will provide vital help for those in the county.
“The purpose of this clinic is to help people, but also to spark a lifelong desire among students to give up their time for people who really need it.
“It also helps our students, as it allows them to acquire experience which simply cannot be taught in a lecture theatre, while serving the community which has become their home during their studies in Penryn.”
LLB Law with Business students work in the clinic after receiving training in interviewing clients and case management. Due to the demand for free legal advice in Cornwall, the clinic already has a waiting list. Enquiries are triaged by the clinic team who decide whether the clinic can help and, if it cannot, where else might be able to help the enquirer.
Clients are invited to send documents and, if appropriate, to have a meeting with their team of student of advisers. The students then research the problem and prepare a written letter of advice, reviewed by the supervising practitioner before being provided to the client.
More information about the Clinic can be found here. To contact the clinic email a2jclinic@exeter.ac.uk
The clinic cannot help with criminal or personal injury cases, or family law, immigration, environmental law, homelessness, special educational needs and disabilities, intellectual property, tax and financial advice, professional negligence, benefits or probate.
