Welcome to the Law Clinic
The Law Clinic was launched in October 2003 in order to provide free legal assistance to people in Glasgow and the surrounding area who are unable to obtain legal assistance through other means. The Clinic is intended to be complementary to existing legal services provided by lawyers and other agencies such as Citizens’ Advice Bureaux. It therefore, does not act for anyone who can afford professional legal services, or who qualifies for legal aid. Nor will it act in areas like debt or immigration advice where there are already adequate services provided.
As the first university law clinic in Scotland, the Law Clinic builds upon a long tradition of student law clinics in other countries, where they are recognised for their value, not only to the community at large, but to each new generation of lawyers. While the Law Clinic prioritises the community’s needs for legal services and its clients’ interest, it is also recognised that students benefit from their involvement in clinic work by developing legal skills, experiencing law in operation, and reflecting on the ethics and justice of legal practice.
There are currently around 160 students working voluntary in the Law Clinic. They are supervised by two solicitors and advised by Law School Academics. Although the Law Clinic will assist anyone who meets its criteria, the majority of its cases have been in the areas of employment, housing and consumer disputes. Since its launch, the Law Clinic has proved to be a tremendous success, assisting over 500 clients through advice, negotiation and arguing cases in court. Recently, it has expanded it services by setting up an 'outreach' clinic in North Glasgow, and is currently engaging in law reform work and developing a program by which it can educate vulnerable groups in society as to their rights.
I hope that you find this site useful and that any contact with the Law Clinic is a fruitful one. If you have any further queries, please contact me: donald.nicolson@strath.ac.uk
Donald Nicolson
Latest News
Community Champion FinalistUniversity of Strathclyde Law Clinic was last week recognised as a finalist in the Glasgow Community Champion Awards Read more...
Law Clinic involved in law reform
Scottish first for Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde Law School wins Best Contribution by a Law School award for the work of the Law Clinic Read more...
Sheriff Court Success
Youngest lay representatives in Scotland to win a proof in the Sheriff Court. Read more...
Award Success
Strathclyde Law School's Law Clinic and its students have been shortlisted for three seperate awards in the 2009 LawWorks and the Attorney General Student Awards. Read more...
