Law Clinic at GCU
The Law Clinic is a student-led initiative that provides free and confidential legal advice and assistance to individuals within Greater Glasgow who do not qualify for legal aid and cannot afford professional legal advice. Participation gives the opportunity to develop the following Common Good attributes:
- Active and global citizenship
- Confidence
- Entrepreneurial mind-set
- Responsible leadership
What’s involved?
The Law Clinic is a student-led initiative within GCU which allows LLB students to gain practical legal skills alongside their degrees. It is a service that provides free and confidential legal advice and assistance to individuals within the Greater Glasgow community who do not qualify for legal aid and cannot afford professional legal advice. We specialise in housing, employment, contract and consumer law; however, we can assist with some other law areas. We can provide general legal advice, draft legal letters, represent clients in court and negotiate on behalf of clients in contractual disputes.
All of the advice provided by our law student volunteers is supervised by qualified legal practitioners. We aim to widen access to legal services within the local community. In relation to Street Law, we actively work with local schools and deliver legal workshops.
How will participating in this activity/opportunity allow students to make a positive difference in the communities that we serve?
The work of the Law Clinic aids in accessing justice as the clients we see do not qualify for legal aid and cannot afford professional legal advice. Our work is crucial for those in our community who have real unmet legal needs. Through our Street Law programme, we provide interactive sessions to help school pupils become more aware of the laws that impact their daily lives. Our outreach programme aims to help school pupils:
- Understand the ethics that shape the law
- Gain an understanding of how the law works
- Learn how the law affects them as individuals
- Develop critical thinking and communication skills
- Learn about the legal protections and options that are available to them.
What are the benefits of taking part in this activity/opportunity for participating students?
The Law Clinic allows our students to practically develop their skill set by dealing with real clients who have real legal problems. Some students also have the opportunity to become part of the Law Clinic management team, so are central to the decision-making process and direction of the Clinic. The students benefit from being part of SULCN (Scottish Universities Law Clinic Network), which provides networking and mentoring opportunities. Furthermore, the students regularly deal with members of the legal profession, which allows them to expand their own personal network of contacts. Being part of the Law Clinic will naturally enhance the CV, but it also allows our LLB students to demonstrate that they are true ambassadors of the University for the Common Good.
Success stories
Our Law Clinic blog and Law Clinic Twitter account are full of success stories and reflections by our LLB students. In addition to our first successful court win this year, we were finalists in the Scott&Co Legal Awards 2016, our student director was shortlisted for GCU student of the year 2016, and our academic director was shortlisted for two teaching awards with one win!
Which School or department delivers/supports this activity?
Glasgow School for Business and Society.
Which students can participate in this activity?
The Law Clinic is open to all LLB students at any point in their studies.
Contact
Name: The Law Clinic
Department/School: Law, Economics, Accountancy and Risk
Telephone: +44 (0)141 331 8070 / 8098
Email: lawclinic@gcu.ac.uk
Web: http://www.gcu.ac.uk/lawclinic
Other: Law Clinic blog Law Clinic on Twitter