The Clinic is delighted to announce that 57 new Student Advisors are now fully trained and ready to begin to take on cases and become involved in our projects.

Student Director, Helen Donnelly, said:

“From their high levels of attendance at the Annual General Meeting and the series of enquiries I have received regarding our various community projects, I have a very positive feeling that there is a lot of promise among the new advisors.  For that, I am extremely grateful.  The Clinic is nothing without the students.”

Professor Donald Nicolson added:

“It is a great pleasure to welcome another new generation of Law Clinic Student Advisors. Every year, we are overwhelmed by the dedication and commitment displayed by our new intake, and we are confident that this year will be no exception. With this new intake our membership has increased to almost 200 students – more than we have had for a long time. As such, we can expect even greater things from our student-led organisation intent on enhancing access to justice.”

We look forward to being able to celebrate the success that all these new students will undoubtedly achieve on behalf of their clients.

For more information on how we handle our cases, please click here. If you wish to learn more about our projects, please click here.

 

The Law Clinic held its AGM on 6^th November, and, as usual, this was an inspiring event where the success of the previous year was showcased – not just at the level of casework, but also in terms of our projects. To pick just a few highlights:

• Student Director 2012-2013, Hannah Cosgrove, won Best Individual Student Award and the Clinic was Highly Commended for the Best Law School at the LawWorks & Attorney General Student Awards 2013
• Law Clinic won Team of the Year at the Herald Society Awards
• 341 clients assisted: 180 by Students Advisors (up from 146 in the previous year) and 161 in the Initial Advice Clinics
• Expansion of the Prisons Project from two to five prisons, expansion of the Schools Project by doubling the number of schools involved
• First case settled through Judicial Mediation
• Law Clinic hosts annual Scottish Universities Law Clinic Network event

Well-deserved congratulations were extended to all our members, and some members were recognised for standing out in their efforts.

The Best Newcomer Award went to Jacob Hay. Delivering the award, Law Clinic Director Donald Nicolson said:

“He is someone who volunteered for every task open from day one. If he can help, he will. He fixes IT problems, provides support to those around him, takes on cases, and steps in to do interviews at next to no notice. He worked in the Clinic nearly every day though the summer helping those around him, devoting himself to his clients, and attending Law Clinic events.  At the beginning of the summer he took the lead in organising the highly successful SULCN event, and has proved an excellent Communications Officer.”

The Best Advisor Award went to Michael Dempsey, who Donald described as follows:

“He loves a chance to enter into a good duelling match with the opposition, never rejects an opportunity to push himself further in the court. He takes on every case he can, but it is not all just about the challenge.  He is passionate about fighting the client’s case.  If there is a point to be made he will ensure it is heard and made well, but can be overheard explaining with great clarity and sympathy the most complex of legal conundra to the clients.”

Advisors Katie Souter, Emma Watson & Andrew Maxwell were commended for their performance in the Case of the Year:

“This case is one which highlights precisely how the Clinic can help the most vulnerable of individuals. Advisors went the extra mile to balance their coursework with the Clinic in order that they could continue to help the client through a particularly stressful Employment Tribunal. As a result, the client was vindicated financially, but more importantly, her experience was recognised by the Judge as involving an injustice.”

The Amanda Benstock Award for Compassion was awarded to Jacky Wall:

“She takes on cases which would challenge even the most experienced of advisors, but her concern is always how the experience has affected the client and whether they got the result they deserved. Under her stewardships the IACs have gone from comfortable levels of success to being a central part of what the Clinic does for the Community. She truly believes in the need to increase access to justice.”

The Effie Shaw Award for Dedication was awarded to Craig Leslie. In introducing the Award, Donald said:

“This year sees another new award. It was instigated to commemorate the memory of Effie Shaw who became involved with the Clinic as a volunteer at Central Glasgow CAB. She came to us after years of being a formidable fighter for worker rights and an expert in employment law. She wanted to continue the fight but her health no longer allowed her to appear in court. So we entered into collaboration with her to take on her cases that need to be argued and in doing so benefitted from years of her knowledge and the example of her dedication.

If there was a member of the Clinic who could best exemplify the quality of dedication it is Craig Leslie.  From the beginning of his Clinic membership he has been on hand whenever he can spare even 30 seconds to help out.  He takes on challenging cases and really focuses his efforts.  If there is a task to be done he is always there to volunteer. He spent most of his summer living in the Clinic, even though it was on a purely voluntary basis”

The final award, for Overall Contribution, went to Andrew Maxwell. It was hard to encompass all that Andrew does for the Clinic, but Donald spoke of Andrew as someone who was:

“Always there to help. He is very supportive and provides invaluable help on case work. He is very generous with his knowledge and experience, and is dedicated to doing the best job for the Clinic and its clients. Andrew is in his fifth year of invaluable service in the Clinic. He has been an exemplary advisor, taking on over 30 cases and always determined to the best he can for his clients even when legal solutions are not available. Not only does he do a very thorough job on his own cases he is always ready to assist others, step in when help is needed whether that be research, court appearances, phone calls or client interviews.”

The event provided all those in attendance with an immense sense of pride, and we look forward to even greater service and success in the 2013-2014 academic session.

 

Student Director Hannah Cosgrove With Her Award

Strathclyde Law Clinic Student Wins National LawWorks & Attorney General Student Pro-Bono Award.

We are delighted to announce that yet again the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic have been successful at this year’s LawWorks and Attorney General Student Awards. Student Director Hannah Cosgrove was a much deserved winner in the Best Individual Student Award, beating off competition from seven others.

This award was thoroughly deserved after the effort she has put into the Clinic over the last two years. She has been instrumental in the formation of the Scottish Universities’ Law Clinic Network, and also has taken the lead in establishing our Schools Project, setting up links with the Terence Higgins Trust and also establishing an outreach clinic in Bathgate.

This award builds on previous successes at the LawWorks awards ceremony, which have seen the Law Clinic shortlisted on various occasions, winning Best Law School in 2009, Best Contribution by an Individual Student, Alasdair Stewart, in 2011 and more recently winning Best Contribution by a Team of Students Award, in 2012.

Hannah said “Winning this award is a perfect way to mark the end of my time in the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic. I am absolutely delighted, not only to have received this award, but to have had the opportunity to be in the Law Clinic and make a genuine difference to people who would not have achieved access to justice without it. The pro bono work that I have taken part in would not have been possible without the support and hard work of everyone in the Law Clinic and the University of Strathclyde itself. Hopefully, this is something that will continue and grow for years to come.”

Building on a string of recent awards and nominations, the Law Clinic is pleased to announce that we have been shortlisted in two categories at this year’s Law Works national pro bono awards. The University itself has been shortlisted for the Best Contribution by a Law School, and our current Student Director Hannah Cosgrove has been shorlisted for the Best Contribution by an Individual Student award. The Law Clinic has had some past success at these awards, and so would hope to continue this trend.

Donald Nicolson, Clinic Director, notes that “the fact that we have been shortlisted in these two categories, against impressive competition from across the length and breadth of Britain, demonstrates two things: the value that clinics can bring to a host university, and the sheer drive of the individual students involved. All of this is, of course, only possible thanks to the huge amount of work that the student volunteers, and small number of staff members, quietly do every day in helping people who have nowhere else to turn.”

The award ceremony will take place on 25 March 2013 in the House of Commons.

Deputy Student Director Patrick Campbell and Training Officer Laura Ferguson Collecting the Award on Behalf of the Law Clinic

It was celebrations all round in the Law Clinic yesterday as we were awarded the Herald Society Team of the Year Award 2012. The award was given to us in recognition of our public service values, outstanding drive and commitment that have made a difference in improving the lives of people in Scotland. We hope we will be able to continue this for years to come, reaching out further across Scotland. The award was picked up by Deputy Student Director, Patrick Campbell, and Training Officer, Laura Ferguson.

Once again, the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic have been recognised for its services and engagement with the local community by the Evening Times Community Champion Awards 2012. The Law Clinic were successfully shortlisted for the award for the Glasgow Central and West area for a third year in a row and this year, we achieved runner up status in the awards ceremony held in August. At the very least this was an opportunity to raise awareness of the problem of access to justice in the local community. However, as Donald Nicolson, Law Clinic Director commented, “As ever, it was an honour just to be shortlisted from amongst so many other commendable contributions to the community. To be chosen as runners up, however, is even gratifying. We have just reached the milestone of our 1000th case and we looks forward to growing from strength to strength in the lead up to our 10th year.”

We are delighted to announce that the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic have been shortlisted for the Charity of the Year award from the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations.

Established in 2003 by Professor Donald Nicolson OBE, the Law Clinic aims to assist people who cannot attain legal advice through any other means. Since it began, the Law Clinic has helped almost1000 people gain access to justice and in the last year, the Clinic has assisted 182 people, winning or saving them nearly £220,000. As well as tackling individual cases, students, supported by fully qualified solicitors, carry out education and community work in prisons and schools.

The SCVO itself has 1300 voluntary sector organisation members, indicating how tough the competition was. Professor Nicolson, Director of the Law Clinic said, ‘To be shortlisted itself is an honour given the number of worthy voluntary organisations which operate in Scotland. However, it is no more than the hard work and dedication of the students and staff deserve. The fact that the students put together the nomination on their own is an indication of the level of professional which has been engendered in the Clinic.’ Hannah Cosgrove, Student Director of the Clinic said, ‘SCVO do an amazing job promoting the great work that goes on in the 3rd sector. To be part of the work that is recognised is a fantastic achievement for the students who make the Clinic what it is today. Access to justice is something which people might not automatically think a charity can help with, but where we can, we will and hopefully this will continue for years to come.’

The Law Clinic were also recently recognised in London, winning the Best Contribution by a Team of Students at the LawWorks and Attorney General Student Awards 2012.

Strathclyde Law Clinic Committee Win National LawWorks & Attorney General Student Pro-Bono Award

Louisa Doole, Hannah Cosgrove, Annabell Fowles & Nur Hemsi Collecting the Award on Behalf of the Law Clinic

We are delighted to announce that the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic have once again been successful at the LawWorks and Attorney General Student Awards 2012. The Clinic’s Executive Committee have been the proud recipients of the Best Contribution by a Team of Students Award.

The committee is made of twelve appointed and seven elected students. It currently meets monthly along with the Clinic Director and the supervisors to decide on Clinic policy and direction, and debate ethical issues raised by cases. In this role, it has played a crucial role in upholding and modelling to others the Clinic’s core volunteer and social justice ethos.

The appointed office holders on the Committee are particularly important in ensuring that the Clinic runs effectively and efficiently. Such work includes:

• helping with the allocation and monitoring of cases, and mentoring student advisors (Case Managers);
• organising induction training and around ten additional training sessions a year, as well as attendance at outside sessions (Training Officer);
• maintenance of our award-winning case management system, mailing lists, and the website (IT Officer);
• Producing external and internal publicity and maintaining external relations (Communications Officer);
• Fund-raising (Funding Officer).

Most importantly, the Student Director and her Deputy oversee all Clinic activities, including the various Clinic projects, represent the Clinic to the outside world, and help maintain Clinic morale through social events.

A very conservative estimate suggests that these students volunteer around 7000 hours annually. This saves the time (and salary costs) of the Clinic Director and having to employ four more paid staff to maintain current Clinic activities. As a result, the Law Clinic runs at cost of less than a third of the average law clinic affiliated to LawWorks.

This award builds on previous successes at the LawWorks awards ceremony, which have seen the Law Clinic shortlisted on various occasions, winning Best Law School in 2009 and Best Contribution by an Individual Student, Alasdair Stewart, in 2011.

Current Student Director, Hannah Cosgrove, said, “We are absolutely delighted that our efforts have been recognised nationally. The standard of competition is always high, with other universities such as BPP Law School, King’s College London, Cardiff Law School and Bristol Law School offering equally notable services. The University of Strathclyde Law Clinic’s Committee is the driving force behind its continued success and high level of service, and we know this will continue on for years to come.”

The Law Clinic Student Committee has been shortlisted for the Award of Best Contribution by a Team of Students at the LawWorks & Attorney General Student Awards. This is in recognition of the incredible job performed by the Student Committee in running the Clinic. Students from the committee will attend the awards ceremony on Tuesday 27th March at the House of Lords.

The Law Clinic has previously been successful, winning Best Contribution by a Law School in 2009 and Best Contribution by an Individual Student in 2011. It has also received a runner up award for Best Contribution by an Individual Student.