Author: Basmah Hussain

Pro Bono in Action: How Scottish Lawyers and Law students transform communities and themselves

By Basmah Hussain

Every year, Pro Bono Week aims to celebrate and recognise the strides made across the legal field in the UK in providing free legal services. This year, the theme is ‘Pro Bono in Action,’ which I believe aims to recognise the tangible impact that pro bono work has on communities and on legal professionals and students alike. Alongside this recognition, it calls for more in the field to harness their legal expertise and continue to ensure tangible social change is being made.

Many law students, like myself, decide to study law and enter the field with the goal of doing good and helping others, and the ability to provide pro bono legal services during and after our studies achieves exactly this. The Law Clinic has been providing law students with the opportunity to develop their legal skills and offer free representation and legal advice to those in need for the past 22 years. Since its inception, the Clinic has won/saved over £2,300,000, and in 2024-2025 alone, won/saved over £170,000 for our clients. The monetary wins throughout the years are only one way to measure the success of the Clinic and its impact on the wider community.

The empowerment clients feel after their otherwise unheard legal issues are recognised and given currency through our representation, and the appreciation that legal professionals themselves experience in utilising their skills is priceless. The work done in the Clinic, especially within our Initial Advice Clinics, allows practising solicitors who take time out of their busy schedules to provide free legal advice across a variety of legal areas. Meanwhile, student advisors, who shadow the process, are exposed to new areas of law and learn how to digest legal problems and present advice to clients. This mutual transformation of skills and legal knowledge, all whilst clients are positively impacted, offers the perfect insight into what pro bono work symbolises. Its impact extends far beyond the clients it serves and the monetary wins it may achieve.

Outside of the Clinic, for lawyers and firms across the UK, pro bono is an invaluable arena for professional and personal growth. Junior solicitors gain hands-on experience and confidence, whilst senior solicitors sharpen mentoring and leadership skills. Firms also report that pro bono engagement enhances morale and strengthens retention. In a competitive profession, pro bono work can also be a distinguishing factor, demonstrating to clients and others that a firm’s commitment to justice is more than just a slogan. Pro bono work throughout a solicitor’s career may also act as a reminder of their initial motivations to study and practice law: to do good and help others.

Pro Bono Week 2025 is another reminder of the wide and all-encompassing impact pro bono has, not only in the communities it serves, but also to the legal professionals and students who make the provision of these services possible. In a society where economic and social challenges continue to evolve, so must our commitment to providing pro bono legal services and transforming our communities and ourselves for the better.

The Scottish Legal Aid Crisis: Strathclyde Law Clinic students share their perspectives

by the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic’s Legal Aid Working Group

The University of Strathclyde Law Clinic exists to plug gaps in legal aid and provide a source of legal advice and representation for those in the community who cannot otherwise access it. We are finding that this pool of people is increasing year on year, and there is certainly no shortage of demand for our service. This results in us turning clients and cases away when we do not have capacity. Third sector and voluntary agencies providing legal services across Scotland find themselves in a similar position.

As the Law Society of Scotland launched its Legal Aid Matters campaign, it stated that:

“Scotland’s legal aid system is under threat, and with access to justice being the cornerstone of a fair society, something needs to be done” 

It is well documented that the number of legal aid solicitors is shrinking year on year, and shockingly, nearly one-third of practitioners are set to retire within the next decade. This decline puts the most vulnerable citizens in our society at an even greater risk. The Society has recognised that without urgent action, there is a real possibility of a complete collapse of the system within 10 years. Here at the Clinic, our students are committed to the idea that the justice system should be available to everyone, not just those with deep pockets. They share their thoughts below:

Human Rights

Student A “Legal aid has been a hot topic in Scottish news in recent months, particularly following reports of a woman who had contacted over 100 law firms but was unable to get legal aid support for divorcing her husband who had assaulted her. This is one of several cases across Scotland demonstrating legal aid’s inaccessibility. This has put Scotland into a sector-wide legal aid crisis, requiring extensive reforms. Legal aid is the foundation of access to justice. Without it, justice risks becoming inaccessible to the poorest and most marginalised members of society. Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights states that everyone has the right to a fair and public hearing. However, without the support of a solicitor, how can an individual have a fair hearing when they cannot afford legal support, especially if the opposing party is legally represented?”

Employment Law

Student B: “I think that one overlooked issue is the lack of legal aid support for employment tribunal claims. Claimants are often unrepresented against the opposing party, who is normally represented by an experienced solicitor or advocate. Tribunals were originally designed to be accessible to members of the public who had no legal knowledge. However, over time, the tribunal process has become increasingly complex and adversarial making access to advice and representation for both parties essential. The ‘overriding objective’ set out in Rule 3 of the Employment Tribunal Rules provides that parties should be on an ‘equal footing’ and that proceedings should avoid unnecessary formality. However, when employers are represented by solicitors or advocates and the claimant is not represented at all, how can that balance be maintained? This can be overwhelming for claimants.

Now is the time to consider what support can be given to those going through employment tribunal claims. Unrepresented claimants will often not know how to prepare for a hearing. They may also have difficulty calculating their losses or knowing what questions should be asked. These are real issues that can directly affect the fairness and outcomes of claims. Extending legal aid in a meaningful way to adequately cover this type of action would be a significant step in ensuring access to justice is upheld and that parties are placed on an equal footing. Employer/employee relationships are inherently imbalanced. However, this imbalance should be removed from the employment tribunal process through a robust and accessible legal aid system.”

Simple Procedure and Ordinary Cause

Student C: “At the Law Clinic, we see many people struggling with the Simple Procedure process. Simple Procedure is meant to provide lay members of the public with a more accessible method of resolving lower-value civil claims. However, the process is still challenging for many. The Law Clinic’s Online Project is valuable in this regard as it provides one-off written advice letters to clients going through or wishing to understand the Simple Procedure process. We use our online service to give clients advice on a range of procedural concerns about the process, as well as advising them on administrative issues, and responding to queries about the practicalities of self-representation.

Beyond this, however, many clients have claims that are valued well over the £5,000 limit for Simple Procedure. This means that if they pursue their claim, then they must do so under Ordinary Cause. Ordinary Cause is more complicated than Simple Procedure. Whilst technically clients can represent themselves, the process can be incredibly complex for those who do not have legal experience. Unfortunately, the Law Clinic is not able to offer representation or assistance with Ordinary Cause cases. This has resulted in us having to turn clients away or offer only very limited advice.”

Gender-based Violence

Student D “The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (SWRC) is a collaboration between Strathclyde Law Clinic, Rape Crisis Scotland and Just Right Scotland. The centre provides access to justice for women experiencing gender-based violence. These essential services are funded by the Scottish Government and administered by the Scottish Legal Aid Board.  

A report published by the organisation last year explored, amongst other things, the impact of the legal aid crisis on SWRC service-users. It found an increasing number of survivors of gender-based violence are unable to find solicitors to take on their case, with some having to contact up to 50 solicitors. The organisation noted an increase in self-representation in civil cases as a result.

Where legal aid is not available, victims can privately fund legal representation. However, the cost of doing so is prohibitive. This means that many will opt for self-representation. Self-representation is very challenging due to the nature, complexity and duration of such cases.

The means-tested requirement for financial eligibility determines whether someone qualifies for legal aid. In Scotland, the individual must provide evidence of their income, savings and assets to prove they cannot meet private fees of solicitors. However, if an individual exceeds slightly by even one pound, they do not qualify. If they do qualify, they still need to find a solicitor who will accept legal aid, which is becoming increasingly difficult.”

You can read the SWRC report here.

Help the Law Society of Scotland protect the rights of the most disadvantaged and keep legal aid on the political agenda by supporting the #LegalAidMatters campaign.

You can show support by signing the pledge or by downloading the asset pack to share on social media. You can also speak up by using the ready-to-go template to send a letter to your MSP and urge them to prioritise legal aid here.htts://www.lawscot.org.uk/members/journal-hub/articles/legal-aid-matters/

A Year of Milestones: Reflecting on our Time as Student Directors of the Strathclyde Law Clinic

As we end our term as Student Directors of the Strathclyde Law Clinic, we reflect on what has been an exceptionally rewarding and inspiring year. It has been our privilege to work in partnership with such a dynamic and driven community of students, staff, and supporters, all of whom have played a part in advancing our mission to improve access to justice.

This year has been marked by some truly memorable milestones. A particular highlight was the visit of The Right Honourable Lord Reed, President of the UK Supreme Court. His visit not only emphasised the national significance of our work but also served as a powerful reminder of the importance of practical legal education. Lord Reed’s engagement with our students – especially his encouragement to embrace learning beyond the library – resonated deeply with our ethos as “a place of useful learning.” His praise and encouragement were invaluable as we continue to empower students to push beyond their comfort zones and become confident advocates for our clients.

Another unforgettable event was our participation in the University of Strathclyde Law School’s 60th Anniversary celebration. To stand alongside leaders of the Scottish legal profession – Lord Hope, Thomas Ross KC, Professor Kenneth Norrie – was to feel the strength of the community we are part of. It was a moment of pride and reflection, particularly as we then helped host Lord Reed for a lecture marking both the Law School’s anniversary and the 15th anniversary of the Supreme Court. Being able to share our work through an information stand and help facilitate discussions at such a high-level event reaffirmed the value and reach of the Clinic’s contribution to legal education.

We are also incredibly proud of the launch of our Environmental Justice Project (EJP). Funded by the Strathclyde Alumni Fund, this initiative allowed us to recruit dedicated student coordinators and begin vital work in collaboration with organisations like the Climate Justice Legal Initiative (C2LI). The project has already delivered valuable research into global climate litigation efforts and laid strong foundations for the future. It has helped us explore new areas of law, cultivate lasting partnerships, and develop skills that will support our student advisers beyond their years at university.

Of course, this year was also marked by bittersweet farewells. We said goodbye to our longstanding Clinic Director, Kathleen Laverty, who retired after nearly 18 years of transformative service. Kate’s legacy is woven into the fabric of the Law Clinic, from its earliest days in a single-room office to its current stature as Scotland’s largest and most active law clinic. Her leadership, warmth, and unwavering dedication have inspired generations of students, and we are grateful to have benefited from her guidance.

Our core work – casework and community outreach – has remained as impactful as ever. We surpassed £2 million in client savings, a testament to the hard work and commitment of our student volunteers and our staff supervisors. Our case successes, such as the landmark ruling on Long COVID disability discrimination, continue to make a real difference in the lives of those we serve. We also strengthened links with the wider legal community through new partnerships, such as our Associate Practice Unit Membership with the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow. This membership offers students access to an exceptional range of legal resources and CPD opportunities, supporting both their casework and personal development.

Cementing our commitment to our continued growth and development was the development of our 2025-2028 strategic plan.  This will serve as a vital tool for the incoming Executive Committees over the next three years against which they can benchmark their progress in working towards widening the access of our Law Clinic to the community, as well as deepening the impact we make in facilitating access to justice for those for whom it would otherwise be unachievable.

As we (Corey and Natalie) now pass the torch to the next Executive Committee and to Student Directors Gordon Gow (remaining) and Hannah Stewart (incoming), we do so with immense gratitude and optimism. We know that the incoming team will continue to build on this and previous years’ successes with the same energy, innovation, and compassion that define the Strathclyde Law Clinic.

To the law clinic staff team, thank you for your guidance and mentorship – and especially patience! – over the past year and beyond.  Like every one of our student advisers who have moved on into the legal profession, you have all left each of us better prepared, informed, and resilient for what lies ahead; for that, we will be forever grateful.

To our student advisers, Committee members, and supporters, we couldn’t have done any of this without you.  There are no words to describe our gratitude for you all, so as simple as it is, please know that there is so much more beneath it when all we can say is, “thank you”.

– Corey Beaton, Gordon Gow, and Natalie Marshall
Outgoing Student Directors, Strathclyde Law Clinic