Student Law Office partner wins industry honour

A leading Newcastle law firm, which runs a free drop-in clinic in conjunction with Northumbria University, has scooped a prestigious industry award.

The university has offered its congratulations to Ben Hoare Bell which scooped the title of North East Law Firm of the Year at the recent Newcastle Law Society Awards.

Northumbria works in partnership with Ben Hoare Bell LLP to run the Legal Advice Byker Project - a pro bono scheme which provides guidance to disadvantaged individuals and families.

Now in its third year, the clinic is led by students from Northumbria University’s Student Law Office under the supervision of solicitors, and forms part of the four-year MLaw degree.

Executive Dean Kevin Kerrigan said: “We want to offer our congratulations to Ben Hoare Bell LLP for winning this prestigious and well-deserved award for its exemplary work. “Northumbria Law School is extremely proud of its link to the firm through the Legal Advice Byker programme which has gone from strength to strength since it started as a pilot in 2012. 

“Today it continues to provide an extremely valuable service to the local community in Byker, as well as being a vital educational resource which forms a significant part of the MLaw degree.”

Mark Harrison, partner at Ben Hoare Bell LLP and deputy vice president of Newcastle Law Society said: “We are committed to providing legal advice to those most in need and our solicitors enjoy giving their free time to work with the local community and students from Northumbria.

“The project also gives law students real life solicitor experience – a vital component in their education. It takes a lot of organisation and planning, both at the firm and at Northumbria, to run the project successfully. We’re very grateful to receive this recognition.”

The recent accolade follows the firm being named Legal Aid Law Firm of the Year earlier in 2014.