Student Law Office recoups more than £130,000 for clients

A pro bono law clinic run by students at Northumbria University has achieved more than £130,000 in compensation for its clients last year – taking the total to more than £1m since 2005.

The award-winning Student Law Office (SLO) is run as a full legal advice and representation service like any other firm of solicitors – providing a vital service for individuals and businesses, many of whom might otherwise be unable to afford legal representation.   The compensation figure is amongst the key highlights revealed in the SLO’s annual report 2013/14.

The report also reveals that the SLO – which is run under the close supervision of qualified lawyers – received 767 new enquiries. The number of open cases (a combination of cases carried forward from 2012/13 and new cases for 2013/14) totals 294.

It also highlights some of the high profile visitors to the SLO over the past 12 months, including Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC MP, Catherine McKinnell MP and Professor Stephen Billett of Griffiths University.

Executive Dean Kevin Kerrigan said: “The figures revealed in the report are testament to the incredible hard work, dedication and expertise of our students in the SLO. “We are extremely proud of the valuable contribution the SLO has made to individuals and businesses across the north east – the availability of this pro bono service has made a huge difference to many unable to afford a legal service. It has also been invaluable in assisting people with the navigation of the legal process.   “Equally important is fantastic practical experience it has provided our students, giving them first-hand experience of real-life situation – it truly is an outstanding resource in law education at Northumbria.”

The SLO has received recognition in the form of numerous awards for its exemplary work, including the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education and the Best Contribution by a Law School title at the LawWorks and Attorney Student Pro Bono Awards 2014.

Students work under a team of 24 members of academic staff - a mix of qualified solicitors and barristers, one caseworker, two administrators and a trainee solicitor – on real-life cases, conducting interviews, researching, advising and providing legal representation.

Its varied portfolio covers areas including civil litigation, criminal appeals, family, employment, business / commercial, housing and welfare benefits. Working as part of the SLO forms a key part of the four-year MLaw degree course.

Kevin Kerrigan added: “The success of the SLO is undoubtedly instrumental in further raising the profile of Northumbria and attracting high calibre students with a dynamism and enthusiasm for law.”