The Student
Law Office at Northumbria University has launched a new project in partnership
with Citizens Advice Newcastle which will see law students working with the
charity to increase access to legal advice in the city.
The Student
Law Office - Law in the Community project, involves more than 30 students volunteering
one day a week at Citizens Advice Newcastle.
They will
provide free legal advice to clients over the telephone and in face-to-face
appointments on a diverse range of legal areas, including family law, debt,
housing, welfare, employment law, consumer law and immigration.
Shona
Alexander, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Newcastle, said: “Local strategic
partnerships are essential to the work of Citizens Advice Newcastle and our
services rely heavily on our specially trained and dedicated volunteers.
“The vast cuts
to legal aid have left a huge gap in support for people going through the legal
process in Newcastle and through launching this new partnership with
Northumbria Law School, we can support more people who otherwise can’t access the
legal and civil rights advice and support they need.”
Paul Mckeown,
Director of the Student Law Office at Northumbria University, explains: “The
aim of the project is to help increase the capacity of Citizens Advice in
offering free legal assistance to members of the community whilst enabling our students
to get hands-on experience in diverse areas of legal practice as they prepare
for the world of work.
“Working in
the community also enables our students to understand the wider context in
which legal advice is provided, for example, there have been substantial cuts
to legal aid in recent years which have resulted in more people relying on
charities such as Citizens Advice.
“Through the
partnership our law students are able to support people in their community, develop
their own skills and expertise and we hope there will be longer term benefits,
such as our students continuing to volunteer at Citizens Advice when their time
on the project is complete.”
The Student
Law Office - Law in the Community project has also received financial support
from the Woon Brothers Foundation to go towards training and supervising the
students.
Since 2005, Northumbria
University’s Student Law Office has managed more than 7,000 enquiries,
represented more than 3,000 clients and secured awards worth over £1.5 million
on their behalf.
To find out
more about Northumbria University and to work with The Student Law Office, please
visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/law.
