Year
2016
Institution
Northumbria University
Northumbria University's Student Law Office is an award-winning and world leading University ' law clinic' offering vital legal services on a regional and national level free of charge to members of the public, businesses and community groups.
Through its research, conference and outreach activity it acts as a catalyst in raising awareness of and providing access to justice, and developing professional legal skills. Approximately 200 students and 25 staff contribute many thousands of hours of pro bono advice each year. The law clinic produces exceptional results: since 2008 the Student Law Office has dealt with over 3000 enquiries, represented more than 1000 clients and secured nearly £1 million on their behalf.
Impact of work
The team's holistic attitude to student supervision allows students of any ability to flourish, and results in an inclusive approach where students have ownership of their legal casework. Students are supervised by qualified solicitors and barristers who are academic staff in the Law School. The University makes this investment to ensure highly skilled supervision in a wide range of legal practice areas and the capability to oversee high value and complex cases.
Students integrate learning from experience with development of academic knowledge and research skills, all of which is heightened by the live client experience in which the motivation, reality and necessity of client service creates a powerful learning environment.
As a team, we spearhead international clinical legal research. In the last academic year alone, we published more than 40 peer-reviewed articles and two books, hosted two international conferences, delivered over 20 presentations worldwide, and generated global media coverage through blogs, lectures, interactive seminars and social media. Through our Legal Education and Professional Skills (LEAPS) Research Group, we co-author, co-mentor, and co-chair. Our team members serve as editor and reviewers of The International Journal of Clinical Legal Education.
Plans for the future
The wider impact of the Student Law Office has been: (i) to involve the higher education community in the UK and globally in the latest thinking about clinical legal education; (ii) to forge international networks to establish, nurture and develop law clinics elsewhere and (iii) to act as a resource for student and academic awareness of what law clinics can achieve.
Through its research, conference and outreach activity it acts as a catalyst in raising awareness of and providing access to justice, and developing professional legal skills. Approximately 200 students and 25 staff contribute many thousands of hours of pro bono advice each year. The law clinic produces exceptional results: since 2008 the Student Law Office has dealt with over 3000 enquiries, represented more than 1000 clients and secured nearly £1 million on their behalf.
Impact of work
The team's holistic attitude to student supervision allows students of any ability to flourish, and results in an inclusive approach where students have ownership of their legal casework. Students are supervised by qualified solicitors and barristers who are academic staff in the Law School. The University makes this investment to ensure highly skilled supervision in a wide range of legal practice areas and the capability to oversee high value and complex cases.
Students integrate learning from experience with development of academic knowledge and research skills, all of which is heightened by the live client experience in which the motivation, reality and necessity of client service creates a powerful learning environment.
As a team, we spearhead international clinical legal research. In the last academic year alone, we published more than 40 peer-reviewed articles and two books, hosted two international conferences, delivered over 20 presentations worldwide, and generated global media coverage through blogs, lectures, interactive seminars and social media. Through our Legal Education and Professional Skills (LEAPS) Research Group, we co-author, co-mentor, and co-chair. Our team members serve as editor and reviewers of The International Journal of Clinical Legal Education.
Plans for the future
The wider impact of the Student Law Office has been: (i) to involve the higher education community in the UK and globally in the latest thinking about clinical legal education; (ii) to forge international networks to establish, nurture and develop law clinics elsewhere and (iii) to act as a resource for student and academic awareness of what law clinics can achieve.