Pro Bono
We support and run a range of student-led legal advice clinics in the School of Law that benefit the community, whilst providing valuable real-world experience for our students.
These are also known as 'pro bono' services - a Latin term meaning "for the good of the public". In the legal profession, it refers to the provision of legal services free of charge.
Since the launch of our first pro bono scheme in 2008, we have expanded to 10 schemes with over 200 places for student volunteers.
Undergraduate and postgraduate students can volunteer and benefit from improved interpersonal skills, legal research, public speaking and client care skills.
Get involved
Students can apply to volunteer with pro bono schemes at the beginning of semester one. Students can only volunteer with one scheme at a time.
The variety of schemes and the number of places available make this law school stand out from the crowd. Here are the current schemes that our students can get involved with.
Our Pro Bono Schemes
- CommLaw
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Students work alongside fully qualified commercial solicitors to give reliable and relevant advice and take part in various advice sessions that are offered to SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) by the Innovations Centre.
- FreeLaw
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FreeLaw is a student-led service offering free legal advice to the public. Working in groups students cover most areas of law, conducting interviews and undertaking the required research. The research is always overseen by a qualified solicitor to ensure the advice received is accurate and relevant.
- Miscarriages of Justice Review Centre
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Working in a team, the Review Centre is student-led and centres upon the study and re-investigation of alleged wrongful criminal convictions. The project is innovative in giving students a unique first-hand experience and insight into this area of criminal justice utilising a mentored teaching environment to maximize learning opportunities.
Our Partner Organisations
- Support Through Court
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The School works in partnership with Support Through Court based in Bartolome house . The Support Through Court organisation provides support to unrepresented litigants, inexperienced court users, witnesses and family members, which varies from practical information and help with filling in forms to going in to court with litigants and taking notes of the proceedings. Students benefit from full Support Through Court training and having the opportunity to build their knowledge of county court and family court procedures.
- Langsett Advice and Area Resources Centre
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The Langsett Advice and Area Resources Centre offers advice on a variety of areas, including benefits, employment, housing, consumer, tax, debt and much more. Students will have the opportunity to work alongside a team of volunteers and paid advisors in creating a seamless customer service.
Time spent with the School's pro bono clinics and external partners may count as Qualifying Work Experience under the Solicitors Regulation Authority's SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Exam) route to admission as a solicitor and the School will support students who wish to register their pro bono volunteering. More information is available here.