Prestigious honour for the University of Exeter’s Community Law Clinic
The clinic is nominated for “Best contribution by a Law School” at the The LawWorks and Attorney General Student Pro Bono awards
The team behind the University of Exeter’s Community Law Clinic – which provides crucial free access to justice – have been nominated for a prestigious award.
The student-led clinic plays a key role in tackling the serious barriers to accessible legal advice in the South West.
The pro-bono service helps to support people in the region, which has been identified as a legal advice “desert”. They face major issues in affording representation and navigating a daunting, and often confusing, legal system.
The clinic is nominated for “Best contribution by a Law School” at the The LawWorks and Attorney General Student Pro Bono awards, which celebrate the best pro bono activities undertaken by law students and law schools from across the UK.
Undergraduate law students who participate in the University of Exeter’s Community Law Clinic help people with issues around consumer rights, housing, employment, parking charges, the enforcement of debts, money claims, data protection and property disputes.
There is also a specialist Immigration Clinic which covers initial leave to remain, entry clearance applications, further leave to remain, settlement applications, refugee family reunion, nationality naturalisation, EU settlement scheme and travel document applications.
Around 150 students volunteer in term time. They are assisted by qualified legal professionals, including lecturers and local lawyers who volunteer with the clinic. In term time the in-person clinics take place in Exeter City Centre.
Others shortlisted for the award are LawIRL at The City Law School, City, St George’s University of London; Glasgow Open Justice Centre, University of Glasgow School of Law; Pro Bono Network, Manchester Law School, Manchester Metropolitan University; Justice Hub, University of Manchester; Hallam Legal Advice Centre and Justice Hubs, Sheffield Hallam University and The University of Law Pro Bono Team, The University of Law
The judges for the 2025 Awards are Stephanie Boyce, former President of The Law Society of England and Wales (2021-2022); Marina Faggionato, Joint Chair of the Bar Council Pro Bono & Social Responsibility Committee; Peter Farr, Head of Civil Law Policy, Ministry of Justice; James Harper, Executive Sponsor, Rule of Law and CSR for LexisNexis UK & Ireland; Deborah Smith, Executive Director and Senior Counsel, Goldman Sachs and LawWorks Trustee and Victoria Speed, formerly Director of Trust for London’s Employment Legal Advice Network & Director of Pro Bono at BPP Law School
Kim McDonald, co-director of the clinic and senior lecturer at the University of Exeter Law School, said: “We are so excited to be shortlisted for a LawWorks and Attorney General’s Student Pro Bono Awards. It is a great recognition of all the hard work the clinic team and the students put into the Community Law Clinic.”
The 2025 LawWorks and Attorney General’s Student Pro Bono Awards are sponsored by LexisNexis.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the House of Lords on Wednesday 23rd April with the Attorney General, The Rt Hon. Lord Hermer KC.
To book an appointment with the University of Exeter’s Community Law Clinic for legal support email a2jclinic@exeter.ac.uk
