A unique insight into pro-bono legal practice undertaken by staff and students at Kent Law Clinic can now be gained via social media.
The Kent Law Clinic aims to provide a public service for local people who need legal advice but cannot afford to pay for it whilst enhancing the education of students at Kent Law School through direct engagement in legal practice.
Clinical, the new Kent Law Clinic blog offers an opportunity to learn more about the way in which staff and students engage with specific cases.
Already on the blog is an overview of a case taken on by the Clinic on behalf of residents in Westgate-on-Sea who sought help with their bid to secure village green status for a field in the heart of their local community.
Another post summarises how Clinic students successfully secured public access rights to three woodland footpaths and a bridleway for villagers in Adisham.
Twitter users can also follow @KentLawClinic for regular updates on the work of the Clinic (and for links to the latest posts on the blog).
Work undertaken by the team at Kent Law Clinic has been recognised with numerous awards over the years, most recently with The Lawyer Award for ‘Ethical Initiative of the Year ‘in 2014. The Clinic had previously been shortlisted, alongside many magic circle firms, in 2010, 2012 and 2013. The Clinic’s Access to Land project gained the LawWorks Attorney General’s Award for ‘Best New pro bono Activity’ in 2012 and staff and students collected the Queen’s Anniversary Prize from the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2007.
Students at Kent Law School are encouraged to get involved in the work of the Kent Law Clinic throughout the course of their studies. Opportunities include:
- attending weekly Clinic meetings to hear about and discuss new cases
- being a Clinic receptionist for one hour each week (a vital role in the team through which students gain a wealth of relevant legal experience)
- observing and reporting on weekly advice sessions where volunteer lawyers provide assistance to clients in the local community
- coordinating weekly advice sessions, liaising with volunteer solicitors and barristers
- becoming a team member of either the Criminal Justice Project, Family Justice Project, or Immigration and Asylum Team
- working on cases (under supervision) – conducting research, interviewing clients and possibly even representing clients in tribunals
- taking the 2nd/3rd year ‘Clinical Option‘ module as part of the LLB curriculum
Learn more about the practical legal skills students can gain through their involvement with the Clinic in a video featuring Clinic Director Professor John Fitzpatrick on Kent Law School’s YouTube channel.