Student Lawyers Shortlisted for Prestigious National Award
Students at Northumbria University’s Law School have been shortlisted for a prestigious national award for their contribution to ‘pro bono’ work across the North East.Northumbria’s Student Law Office has been nominated in the ‘Best Contribution by a Team of Law Students’ category and the ‘Best New Student Pro Bono Activity’ category at the Attorney General’s Student and Law School Pro Bono Awards 2009.
Sponsored by the Attorney General, the awards are organised by the pro bono charity Law Works. Northumbria’s Small Business Firms were selected for the scope, range and quality of their work which has taken place from stunning premises in the Law School’s futuristic £70m new building.
Northumbria Student Law Office is unique in its size and its scope. It is run by a dedicated team of lawyers on the Law School’s staff who are committed to the belief that ‘hands on’ experience of running cases under academic and practitioner supervision is the best possible way of discovering how text book law works in a practical context. This enables students to prepare for the world of work while, at the same time, offering a valuable service to the community and maintaining access to justice at a time when this is increasingly under threat.
During the last academic year, students dealt with over a thousand enquiries from around the North East and beyond, and took on around 700 cases. The involvement of well over twenty members of academic and practitioner staff mean that advice can be given across a wide range of areas of expertise including welfare benefits, housing, employment, consumer, criminal appeals, family, education, small business advice and information and human rights.
The Small Business Clinic was established in September 2007 consisting of six student advisors overseen by a qualified and experienced solicitor. As part of the Student Law Office module of Northumbria’s integrated degree, the students advise local businesses on issues including business start-ups, intellectual property rights and commercial contracts. In the past 16 months, the Small Business Clinic has doubled its caseload and now takes referrals from organisations such as Business Link. From September 2008, the service has benefitted from a consultancy arrangement with two local solicitors firms; Muckle LLP and McDaniel & Co, who assist students in resolving complex legal matters and ensure a high quality service for all clients.
It is a common misconception that all businesses can afford legal advice, when in reality many small businesses and budding entrepreneurs lack the financial means. Without the assistance of Northumbria’s Small Business Clinic, many clients would have been unable to afford legal advice.
Carol Boothby, Director of the Student Law Office, said ‘I am delighted that the achievements of students and staff have been recognised in this way. The Student Law Office provides advice in a wide range of legal areas, and it is wonderful that the recently formed small business group have been nominated for the valuable work carried out for the benefit of the business community. This is a tribute to the students and staff involved.
The Awards Ceremony will take place on 31st March at the House of Lords and winners will be announced by the Attorney General, Baroness Scotland
Date posted: March 6, 2009
