A Day in the Life of a Summer Student – Karen Yuill

Every year the Law Clinic provides a group of students with the opportunity to work during the summer holidays. The Law Clinic supports clients throughout the year and it has been extremely rewarding to be able to ensure that clients continue to receive high quality support during the summer period.

“Working in the clinic over the summer has been a fantastic opportunity to help those most in need of our services. Access to Justice doesn’t stop for the summer break.

This is a time where my casework increases so that we continue to maintain the level of service that we provide throughout the academic year. Not only do we work on our cases, but we help each other when required, this leads to the sharing of cases, ideas and learnings.

Day to day working is varied as you just never know what will happen on your day, telephone calls from clients, emails from other parties or even having to help another student with their case. This is a great insight into what may await us once our studies are completed.

Cases I have worked on over the summer placement included Employment, Housing and Simple Procedure. I attended the Employment Tribunal to conclude a four day hearing, as well as a Judicial Mediation. Further, a case that has been with me for some time, is now going to Mediation in the hope that we can achieve a resolution for both parties.

I would just like to add that I would highly recommend that any students in the clinic who wish to further enhance their learnings apply for these placements as they are invaluable.”

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A Day in the Life of a Summer Student – Rebecca Dyer

Every year the Law Clinic provides a group of students with the opportunity to work during the summer holidays. The Law Clinic supports clients throughout the year and it has been extremely rewarding to be able to ensure that clients continue to receive high quality support during the summer period.

“This year, I was given the opportunity to work in the Law Clinic with a group of fellow students during the summer. The service provided by the Law Clinic to clients runs throughout the whole year, and I can truly say that it is a pleasure to have been part of a team ensuring that this support and assistance is continued over the summer. It has been so rewarding to continue to provide access to justice to those who need it the most.

Throughout my summer working in the Law Clinic, this role allowed me to work on an abundance of different cases, giving me insight of the true scope in which this organisation helps people. There is no day that is the same. I have been able to provide help and assistance to clients as well as progress and develop my own skills. As part of the Asylum Project, I have been one of the students responsible for meeting new referrals in need of support with their asylum claims, creating new resources and improving the administration of the Asylum Project. I am also a Firm Co-ordinator and have spent the summer months organising my firm and strategizing for the academic year ahead.

I have recently taken on more responsibility in the Law Clinic, after taking on a Firm Co-ordinator position. My experience working in the Law Clinic over the summer has allowed me to familiarise myself with this role and has given me the opportunity to discuss and work with my fellow dedicated students and staff. This has been valuable in improving my work in the Law Clinic and provide a high quality service to clients, giving them access to justice.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunities that have been given to me as a member of the Law Clinic.”

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A Day In The Life Of A Summer Student

Summer Student – Rebecca Farquhar  

Every year the Law Clinic provides a group of students with the opportunity to work during the summer holidays. The Law Clinic supports clients throughout the year and it has been extremely rewarding to be able to ensure that clients continue to receive high quality support during the summer period.

As a summer student I have undertaken a variety of work and it has been an excellent opportunity to not only help clients with their legal concerns but also develop my skills in legal research. As part of the Housing Advice Under One Roof project, I have been one of the students responsible for researching the new Housing and Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland and creating accessible resources on how to engage with this new remedies forum. I am also the new Initial Advice Clinic project manager and have spent time over the summer developing a strategy for the year ahead.

Helping to ensure that access to justice is a reality rather than only a theory was the reason that I wanted to pursue a career in the legal sphere and I am extremely grateful for the opportunities that I have been given whilst being a member of the Law Clinic.

 

 

 

A Day in the Life of a Summer Student: Liam McKay

Clients’ problems don’t stop during the holidays, and neither does the Law Clinic.

As a Firm Co-Ordinator, I oversee my firm’s case work during the summer break. With most of my firm’s student advisors away from university until September, I’ve stepped in to handle their cases. Picking up ongoing cases halfway through can be challenging, but it is always deeply rewarding to ensure that all our clients are offered the best possible service.

The Law Clinic could not function as it does without summer students: they allow us to continue to be able to offer our full range of services even when the academic year is finished.

In addition to existing cases, we also work hard to accept as many new clients as we can. Without the added burdens of essays or studying for exams, I’ve had a lot more time to focus on casework. I am currently working on eleven cases and have dealt with housing, employment and consumer rights’ disputes. From a personal perspective, it has been a great opportunity to build up practical experience.

The rest of the summer team are fantastic and it has been a privilege to be part of such a hardworking group of like-minded students. Access to justice is incredibly important to me, and I know that my time as a summer student will turn me into a better lawyer.

A Day in the Life of a Summer Student: Ben Brown

In order to ensure that the Clinic can run at full capacity during the university holiday period, we hire a number of part time ‘Summer Students’ to staff the Clinic. These students are typically funded through one of our partnerships or by one of the law firms that support the Clinic. This year we have been able to hire thirteen summer students, thanks in part to the support of the University’s Alumni Fund, the Refugee Survival Trust, David Stirling and the Scottish Women’s Right Centre.

In the latest in a series of articles written by our Summer Students, Ben Brown describes a typical day.

Being a summer student can be challenging when trying to balance commitments, but is extremely satisfying.

I spend most of my time responding to online queries, as I am the Online Project Co-Ordinator. It is my responsibility to ensure that all online case enquiries are distributed amongst advisors and are dealt with as efficiently as possible. We aim to respond to clients within fifteen working days (even during summer), so the response timetable can be quite tight. Advisors carry out the legal research which is then checked by our supervision team. The project is vital in letting us stream our services and I am proud to be responsible for it. It lets us help people by giving them the legal information they need, even if they are far away. I’m  fortunate to have my deputy, Hannah Wilson, who provides a great deal of support.

Alongside responding to online enquiries, I have spent the summer dealing with a wide range of issues as a summer case worker. I have advised clients on employment, housing and consumer issues. I think that direct client contact and advice and representation is at the core of what we do, and it is a real privilege to continue helping with this over the summer break. It has given me the opportunity to work independently, as well as a team, and has been a fantastic learning experience. Summer students are a tight knit group, and we are great at sharing knowledge and expertise and generally helping each other out.

Continuing the Clinic’s work over summer is a real honour and a pleasure.

A Day in the Life of a Summer Student: Scott O’Connor

scottIn order to ensure that the Clinic can run at full capacity during the university holiday period, we hire a number of part time ‘Summer Students’ to staff the Clinic. These students are typically funded through one of our partnerships or by one of the law firms that support the Clinic. This year we have been able to hire ten summer students, thanks in part to the support of the Refugee Survival Trust, David Stirling and the Scottish Women’s Right Centre.

In the seventh of a series of articles written by our Summer Students, Scott O’Connor describes a typical day.

No day in the Clinic is quiet, but some are particularly busy.

A normal day will consist of catching up with emails, making telephone calls, conducting legal research for cases and doing any work that is required on our cases.

However, today I was in Ayr to represent a client in the Small Claims Court. The file had been checked numerous times to ensure that our notes and all relevant paperwork was there.

We met with the client in the waiting room and had a chat with her while we waited for the court to open. I always feel this is an important time to have a chat to keep the client at ease and to answer any questions they may have.

The Court official called us in, we took our seats and waited for our case to be called. When it was called, the Sheriff asked our position and we relayed our research. It was not a complex case and the Sheriff found in our favour quickly. After a quick debrief with our happy client outside, we were on our way back to the office.

Going to court is always nerve-wracking as a student, but going in armed with knowledge that we had done the right research and that we have a supervisor on the other side of a phone call left me confident that I was able to do the best for my client.

A Day in the Life of a Summer Student: Jennifer Rowlinson

jen2

In order to ensure that the Clinic can run at full capacity during the university holiday period, we hire a number of part time ‘Summer Students’ to staff the Clinic. These students are typically funded through one of our partnerships or by one of the law firms that support the Clinic. This year we have been able to hire ten summer students, thanks in part to the support of the Refugee Survival Trust, David Stirling and the Scottish Women’s Right Centre.

In the sixth of a series of articles written by our Summer Students, Jennifer Rowlinson describes a typical day.

My morning always starts with planning the day ahead and sifting through my emails to arrange the priority case work. At present, I have a number of employment cases which are always subject to strict time rules. One of my cases in particular has involved a lot of correspondence with the Tribunal so I have had numerous talks with the client and late working hours to ensure everything is sent away on time. On these days it is definitely all systems go.

As well as employment cases, I have a few matters which are going to small claims court. I am involved in drafting the appropriate court documents, creating the inventory of productions and drafting submissions and witness questions.

As a Firm Co-ordinator, my role over summer has consisted of speaking to current members to see who is staying with us and who is leaving. I have re-allocated cases where people have left and I have also been reviewing cases which are in my firm to keep the files up to date.

Finally, I have the additional role of helping to run the pilot for the new Foodbanks and Benefits project. On Wednesdays I head down to Lodging House Mission with the aim of obtaining new clients. The aim of the project is to help some of the most vulnerable groups in society so we can be dealing with benefits claims or helping clients to find a home. When I am not at LHM, I am working on the administrative side. My role is to draft posters, creating forms and recruitment for the project and liaise with project members.

This is my second year as a summer student and just like last year, it has been a great experience. No two days in the clinic are the same and I like that I am able to spend the summer helping people with their legal problems as well setting up another great Law Clinic project.

A Day in the Life of a Summer Student: Ben Brown

In order to ensure that the Clinic can run at full capacity during the university holiday period, we hire a number of part time ‘Summer Students’ to staff the Clinic. These students are typically funded through one of our partnerships or by one of the law firms that support the Clinic. This year we have been able to hire ten summer students, thanks in part to the support of the Refugee Survival Trust, David Stirling and the Scottish Women’s Right Centre.

In the fifth of a series of articles written by our Summer Students, Ben Brown describes a typical day.

Being a summer case worker and project manager of the Online Project at the same time, it can be challenging trying to balance all of your commitments, but it is immensely satisfying at the same time.

As Online Project coordinator it is my responsibility to ensure that all online case enquiries are distributed among the summer advisors and are dealt with as efficiently as possible.  The response timescale for these enquiries is quite tight as we aim to respond within ten days.  We carry out the research and then ask a supervisor to check it. I am really proud to be responsible for the Online Project, it lets us help people who might not be able to come to the Clinic by giving them the legal help and information they need.

Alongside responding to online enquiries, I have spent the summer dealing with a wide range of issues, including employment rights and consumer issues.  For me, the opportunity to work independently but at the same time be part of a larger team has been an excellent learning curve.

Continuing the Clinic’s work over summer is an honour and a pleasure. I would recommend it to any Clinic member.

Ben Brown

A Day in the Life of a Summer Student: Miranda Hughes

miranda

In order to ensure that the Clinic can run at full capacity during the university holiday period, we hire a number of part time ‘Summer Students’ to staff the Clinic. These students are typically funded through one of our partnerships or by one of the law firms that support of the Clinic. This year we have been able to hire ten summer students, thanks in part to the support the Refugee Survival Trust, David Stirling and the Scottish Women’s Right Centre.

In the fourth of a series of articles written by our Summer Students, Miranda Hughes describes a typical day.

I am working as a summer student for the Immigration Unit, a project that works on referrals from the Scottish Refugee Council with individuals who have exhausted the asylum process. This work can be emotionally draining at times but is also incredibly rewarding. It is also great to be part of a project that, driven by Barbara Coll’s passion and expertise, has grown so much over the past year. This summer we have been reviewing all referrals made to the unit over the last year, developing the Asylum Process handbook which provides key information to the students in the unit and helping to compile a report to provide to the SRC. I truly feel like I learn something new every day.

This morning, however, my day started on a completely different track as one of my cases had a proof scheduled. I spent most of yesterday trying to negotiate a settlement with the solicitor from the other side and at 6.30pm we reached an agreement that both clients were happy with. However, neither side were willing to negotiate on expenses so this was to be a decided by the judge. Turning up with my co-advisor this morning I felt nervous and excited in equal measures but all our hard work paid off when the judge sided with our client and did not award expenses.

Walking back up to the Law Clinic, I felt so pleased we had managed to achieve that success for our client and was excited to go back and share the news with my fellow summer students. We are all so supportive of each other’s successes and ready to step in for client meetings or help each other out with casework; it’s a great environment to be a part of.

Once back, I began compiling a schedule of loss for one of my employment cases that is going to a full hearing in September. Having not done any maths since I was 15, it can be testing at times, but it only goes to show how fantastically varied the work is in the Law Clinic.

A Day in the Life of a Summer Student: Stacey Martin

Law School

In order to ensure that the Clinic can run at full capacity during the university holiday period, we hire a number of part time ‘Summer Students’ to staff the Clinic. These students are typically funded through one of our partnerships or by one of the law firms that support the Clinic. This year we have been able to hire ten summer students, thanks in part to the support of the Refugee Survival Trust, David Stirling and the Scottish Women’s Right Centre.

In the third of a series of articles written by our Summer Students, Stacey Martin describes a typical day.

As a summer student this year, I have been focussed on developing one of the Clinic’s newest projects: the Small Business Law Unit (SBLU). This aims to help small businesses, individuals looking to start up a business, social enterprises, and charities with legal issues they may encounter. Having worked to establish the project last year, it has been both exciting and rewarding for me to assist in furthering the project.

Since the SBLU is new, it requires a lot of development. Therefore, there is rarely a typical day for me as a summer student.  I regularly meet with the Project Manager of the SBLU, Megan McCulloch, to discuss aims for the year ahead and to identify tasks that still need done.

So far my work has included regularly communicating with other business organisations and working with them to identify individuals or businesses who may benefit from our services as well as preparation for the Business Law Bootcamp which took place in June.

In order to prepare for taking clients on during the SBLU’s pilot stage, I have also drafted many documents for clients (e.g. disclaimers, information sheets, etc.) in addition to training materials and a handbook for students.

Finally, although I have been concentrating on the SBLU this summer, I remain actively involved in many cases which has involved making many phonecalls over this summer and drafting letters of advice. Additionally, I regularly take on cases from the Online Project which involves extensive research into various legal areas in addition to attending Initial Advice Clinics.

Stacey Martin