Leading law firms work with Northumbria University law students to provide free legal advice

Eversheds' solicitors worked alongside solicitors and law students from Northumbria University to provide an all day advice session at Newcastle City Library on Monday 7 November 2011. Members of the public could drop in for free legal advice at the heart of Newcastle City Centre.

Law students have also been working with volunteers from Ben Hoare Bell solicitors in the Byker offices in the East end of Newcastle to provide free advice there. Ten lawyers gave up their time to take part in the sessions and by the end of the week more than 50 members of the public had received free 30 minute interviews resulting in either free initial advice, referral to another appropriate advice agency or having their case taken on by Ben Hoare Bell or Northumbria's free legal advice centre 'The Student Law Office'.

The work at Ben Hoare Bell is a pilot for a new project between Northumbria University and the firm. In January 2012, Legal Advice Byker will be jointly launched and seek to provide weekly free advice sessions in the East of Newcastle.

Jeff Dean, Managing Partner at Ben Hoare Bell said, "We are delighted to be working with Northumbria Law students who are the lawyers of tomorrow. Our work together in pro bono week will help us develop our new Legal Advice Byker project to offer advice in partnership with Northumbria University in the New Year."

Eversheds solicitors currently work year round with Northumbria on Streetlaw projects targeted at raising awareness of people's rights through presentations to community groups and schools.

Claire Carroll, Partner, Head of Pro Bono at Eversheds Newcastle said, "Eversheds is committed to positively engaging with the communities in which we live. We enjoy working with student lawyers on a regular basis, encouraging them to become involved in community engagement during the academic stage of their legal career. We find that both the students and our legal advisers benefit from this collaboration, and we hope the students are inspired to continue this engagement with the community throughout their professional lives."

Kevin Kerrigan, Acting Dean of Northumbria Law School said, "Community engagement and practical lawyering are at the heart of what we do as a Law School. This complements the significant and increasing commitment of the North East legal profession to public service in the region."