Clinic Turns 20 – Advisor Interviews

We’ve been chatting to some of our advisors past and present to find out about their clinic experiences in the build up to our 20th Anniversary. As a sneak peak, here are the stories of two of our current Student Advisors and Summer Students, Fiona Rennie and Rahmah Aslan.

Fiona Rennie

When did you first join the clinic?

I first joined the clinic in 2021 when I started my degree.

What motivates you to work in the clinic?

I am motivated by wanting to help my clients achieve the best possible outcome and for them to feel that they have had their voice heard in a system which can be extremely confusing and inaccessible.  I am also motivated by my co-advisors and supervisors who encourage me to try new things and be brave when taking on certain aspects of client work, for example representation.

What has been the best thing so far about being involved in the clinic?

The people are the best thing about being a part of the clinic – both the clients and the Law Clinic advisors and staff. It has been really rewarding to work with clients from a variety of backgrounds and walks of life. I’ve also really enjoyed getting to know the advisors and the staff at the Clinic, everyone is so friendly and welcoming and I have learnt a lot from them.

What has been your most challenging moment so far?

The most challenging part of the work is when we are not able to represent or assist a client with their case. This can be for a wide variety of reasons and is not a decision which is taken lightly. All the same, it can be difficult explaining this to a client when they feel that the Law Clinic is their last port of call.

What do you hope to get out of the clinic during your time here?

On a professional level, I hope to gain skills and experience which will stand me in good stead and give me confidence for starting my traineeship. On a personal level, I hope to feel that I have been able to help our clients and to make connections with other law students who have similar values to me.

Any special message for the law clinic’s 20th birthday?

The Law Clinic is a really special place and is the main reason why I decided to do my law degree at Strathclyde. I am really grateful for all the opportunities I have been given by being part of the Clinic and I hope it will be celebrating many more birthdays to come!

Rahmah Aslan

When did you first join the clinic?

I joined the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic last year, in September 2022.

What motivates you to work in the clinic?

What motivates me to work in the Law Clinic is the thought of helping clients who normally cannot afford legal representation and also providing access to justice.

What has been the best thing so far about being involved in the clinic?

The best thing in the Law Clinic has been experiencing the practical side of the law by working on cases and helping our clients by providing advice and representation.

What has been your most challenging moment so far?

The most challenging time in the Law Clinic has been trying to balance studying during the exams period and working on cases that have deadlines set by the Tribunal.

What do you hope to get out of the clinic during your time here?

I hope to develop my skills and knowledge in the legal field through the Law Clinic as it gives me the opportunity to work on cases involving a variety of areas of law. For example, immigration, housing and employment.

Any special message for the law clinic’s 20th birthday?

All the best in the upcoming years and looking forward to seeing more success from the Law Clinic!

It is officially 2 months until our 20th Anniversary Celebration on the 21st September 2023! If you missed our announcement of this event, read it here: Clinic Turns 20: Alumni Invitation

SULCN Conference 2023

In May, twelve members of the Clinic travelled to Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen to attend the annual Scottish University Law Clinic Network (SULCN) conference. This year it was hosted by the recently founded Grampian Community Law Centre and revolved around the themes of the work of Clinics and the laws interaction with the current cost of living crisis.

The conference kicked off with a discussion led by Darren McGarvey, an Orwell Prize winner and a social commentator. This was followed by a discussion led by Dr Adrian Croft on the impact of legal issues on mental health. Following on from that, Grampian Law Clinic’s director and solicitor, Heather Moneagle, discussed community campaigning efforts recently made, and how the cost-of-living crisis affects the community as a whole. This was rounded off with a talk led by our very own Malcolm Combe, who discussed how the cost-of-living crisis is affecting housing laws today.

The day provided opportunities for reflection on the work we do in our own Clinic as well as fantastic networking opportunities.

Here is what Student Advisor, Katy Li, had to say about the day;

“It was lovely to meet the students and staff from the other clinics at the SULCN Conference. Great to hear that the University of Dundee are looking to re-start their own clinic as well.

My highlight of the day was hearing from Dr Adrian Crofton who shared his experience as a GP at the Torry Medical Practice. Dr Crofton spoke of how poverty affects health and addiction in a community, how substandard housing and related issues like noise pollution negatively impact child development. This reminded me of the work of Dr Gabor Maté, whose work explores the social and economic factors that underline health. I was quite surprised to see the UK’s high level of wealth inequality, and how it correlates to incarceration and drug use rates in a worrying direction. (Immediate reaction: move to Japan!) Looking at the big picture, it reminded me of the importance of community work and understanding issues that people deal with on a daily basis which they have little to no control over.

Following Dr Crofton, we watched a short film on the historic and recent developments of Torry. The many local campaigns to save communal areas from development highlight how important it is to take collective action backed by legal support. At the end of her session, Hannah Moneagle asked us to reflect on ways that clinics can contribute to local issues. Whilst the theme of the conference was the cost-of-living crisis, how it impacts each community will be slightly different. This is an angle that we could explore more of, and perhaps reach out to organisations local to us who serve underrepresented communities.

Thank you to all the speakers, and to Robert Gordon University for hosting us (and the lovely homemade cookies at the end!) The university building is very modern and impressive, particularly on a sunny day. Lastly, thanks to our clinic for sponsoring our transport to the conference. I look forward to the next one!”

It was a fantastic day, and we will be looking forward to the next. Thank you to the Grampian Community Law Centre for hosting the conference and we look forward to inviting you to our Clinic at some point in the future!

20th Anniversary: Malcolm Combe’s Time as a Student Advisor

By Malcolm Combe

 

I was an undergraduate law student at Strathclyde from 2001-2005. Whilst I had no idea this would be the case when I enrolled, being a student at this time put me in a fortunate position: I was able to join the first intake of student volunteers at the new-fangled University of Strathclyde Law Clinic.

I confess I had never even heard of a law clinic when Donald Nicolson sought recruits for the initiative he was setting up at Strathclyde. Like many other enthusiastic students though, I took the plunge and got involved. After an initial period as an advisor, I then become Firm Manager of one of the three firms the Clinic was (at the time) divided into. I continued my involvement with pro bono legal advice in various capacities in the years that followed, before eventually returning to Strathclyde Law School as an academic in 2019. That allowed me to rekindle my support of the Law Clinic in a number of ways, and in the past couple of years I have acted as Programme Director of the Clinical LLB: a dedicated programme for students who embed law clinic experiences and insights into a law degree. It seems fitting that I have somehow found my way back to the Law Clinic, and I’m delighted to be able to contribute to this 20th anniversary celebration of it.

One particular memory of the clinic involves Donald and I going to the old BBC studios at Queen Margaret Drive for a radio interview. For which station I cannot recall, and whether this ever made the airwaves I am not sure; I suspect it did not. Somewhere though, there may be an archive tape where I can be heard adopting the word “worthwhile” as my most favourite word ever, and I am only grateful that BBC Sounds wasn’t around to capture this for more public posterity. Anyway, Donald and I tried to speak about why the law clinic was needed, and also how shocking it was that there was such a demand for it given the unmet legal need that was being plugged by students rather than another source of legal advice and support. Maybe we got a bit too political and that is why we were never broadcast. Alas, what we spoke about remains relevant today. I do fundamentally believe in clinical legal education, and it has become part of my practice; whether it should form so much of a societal safety valve is another matter though.

There were plenty of other good memories of my time with the law clinic, particularly in the context of making friends and attending social events. I also have fond memories of making a difference for clients who came in for advice, which leads on to my memory of my most nerve-wracking moment in the clinic…

Prior to 2011, tenancy deposit protection was not a thing in Scots law. Landlords could ask their tenants for a deposit of up to two months’ rent, but what they did with that deposit was not particularly regulated, and in the event of a dispute at the end of the tenancy there was no state-backed scheme available to adjudicate that dispute. Jennifer Wallace and I represented a client who was seeking the return of their deposit, which their landlord was seeking to retain or at least deduct a sum of money from, apparently on the basis of the condition of the let property. We duly trotted to Glasgow Sheriff Court after serving the paperwork in relation to this, only to discover in court that the documents our client had presented to us were not the full story. Cue a massive flap and a hasty oral submission about some point of law that I was absolutely winging. We managed to push matters into a further hearing though, and our client was in the end awarded the full deposit. Incidentally, this case remains my only appearance representing a client in the Scottish court system: I am delighted to note my 100% success rate as a litigator, and the clinic’s contribution to that record.

Being in the Clinic taught me quite a lot, or at least forced me to be more structured in my application of previously abstract ideas. In addition to mundane skills like task management and keeping organised files, the clinic brought notional scenarios to life. Suddenly I was faced with real people with real problems, and I was determined to do my best for them. I hope I did justice to the faith they put in me, and perhaps contributed just a little to the access to justice deficit that existed at the time.

Speaking of which, access to justice issues have not gone away. In fact, they have probably got worse. My message to the current crop of law clinic students is accordingly a simple one – keep striving to make a difference. Also, keep in mind that even if some aspects of your clinic journey might feel a bit hectic or overwhelming when you are in the moment, what you are doing is indeed worthwhile. You are still doing the right thing by putting yourself in those situations. My overwhelming perception of those who have been involved with the clinic is that they look back on their time there with both fondness and an awareness about how it has contributed to their own self-development, not to mention it has allowed lasting friendships to be formed along the way. Here’s to the next twenty years!

 

Law Clinic volunteers in the ground floor of the (now demolished) Stenhouse Building, the site of the Clinic’s first office. Malcolm is second from the right.

Mediation and Restorative Justice

by Katy Li

In March 2023, I attended the third UK Mediation Clinic Conference at the University of Strathclyde. In my Scots Law CLLB degree, I have encountered mediation in the Legal Methods module, and during workshops as a part the clinical degree.

During my initial law clinic training, we were taught to produce client statements by sifting through the legally non-relevant information from client interviews. In practice, particularly when dealing with vulnerable clients, it often takes time for them to get their stories out. I do not enjoy hearing the voice inside my head going:When will you get to the relevant part?’ as I interview someone who is struggling to communicate their thoughts.

The tug between fully listening and understanding the client on a person-to-person level, and filtering out the information they give me as legally relevant or non-relevant on the spot has caused some tension in me. In mediation, the emphasis on listening to both parties and helping them to put their stories across seem to provide a space where creative solutions can be found. People’s emotions, what they really desire, and how they want to be treated, take on more significance in mediation than in traditional solicitorclient relationships.

Mediation is particularly suitable for situations where parties wish to maintain a relationship in the future. On the other hand, where there is a power imbalance between the parties, mediation may not be appropriate. I took this impression with me when I attended a restorative justice seminar on ‘How can Active Victim Participation be Achieved?’ by Prof Tim Chapman in June 2023. Restorative justice is about bringing the perpetrator and victim together for the benefit of both. The seminar focused on sexual abuse cases. Examples of the victims bravery and strength to participate in the sessions and to hold perpetrators responsible were remarkable. It also made me angry for the institutional failures that allowed children to be abused by people in positions of authority.

Prof Chapman mentioned that some victims are ‘vulnerable but strong’, meaning that some are willing to expose themselves to past trauma (past in the sense that the event happened in the past, but the effects of which are still very much present) at the price of being triggered and emotionally exposed as a part of their healing journey. Whilst some practitioners might say: ‘Meeting the perpetrator at the place of abuse will re-traumatise you, the risk is too great’, if the victim has requested this, and if it is appropriate, it takes a brave practitioner to assist the victim to go where they need to go, even to those dark and difficult places.

It is not lost on me that to hold meetings between parties with such complicated history requires immense skill, time and planning to safely facilitate, and resources are limited; however, where this is possible, the potential for healing is also great.

Being fully present and patient are throughlines in mediation and restorative justice. As a student advisor, it reminds me that how we deliver advice is just as important as the advice we give.

More details of the conference can be found here: https://www.strath.ac.uk/media/1newwebsite/departmentsubject/law/Mediation_Matters_-_Issue_3_-_April_2023.pdf

Pride Month 2023 – Celebrating Difference & Challenging Discord

by Corey Beaton

It was fortunate that my first day as EDI Officer for Strathclyde Law Clinic fell on the first day of Pride Month 2023. Plenty of events will be held across Scotland to celebrate its LGBTQI+ communities, to campaign for stronger protections for equal rights, and to reflect on the challenges which are still faced across the country and the world.

Fifty-four years have passed since the Stonewall protests took place in New York; 51 years ago in July, the UK’s first Pride March danced and celebrated its way through the streets of London; and 20 years have passed since section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 was finally repealed. All significant milestones in the growth of the vibrant and diverse Pride Movement across the world, but this is growth which continues to be tempered by the continuing harassment and persecution of LGBTQI+ people across the world.

In March this year, the Ugandan Parliament passed a bill which made so-called “aggravated homosexuality” punishable by death, or at the very least life imprisonment. Closer to home, the Scottish Government reported that, in 2021-22, almost 7,000 hate crimes were reported to police with over a quarter being motivated by prejudices against another’s sexual orientation and gender identity. When we look back at the words of Hillary Clinton in 2010, that “gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights once and for all”, it’s clear to see this message hasn’t been shared as widely nor acted on as positively as she had hoped.

That is not to say there is no hope, no recourse of action, that we can undertake as individuals nor as a collective. The rule of law has always proven itself to be an invaluable & effective vehicle for change; it’s only when those processes are abused does it cause harm and suffering. We’ve come a long way in Scotland to make sure our LGBTQI+ communities are given equal rights & opportunities, but we shouldn’t stop there – there is simply too much at stake to allow discord & hate to become the norm.

I wish everyone who celebrates it a happy and safe Pride Month, and never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it.

Clinic Turns 20: Alumni Invitation

Dear Law Clinic Alumni,

As you may know, the Clinic turns 20 this year!

We are organising an event in celebration of this where current and past advisors are invited! This is planned to take place on the evening of Thursday the 21stSeptember 2023.

The event will focus on access to justice and with particular focus on gaps in legal representation. We hope to focus on the areas of employment, SSSC and immigration, as these are three large areas that the Clinic works in.

We will provide more details about the event as time goes on. Eventually an Eventbrite page will be set up to register for tickets to the event so please keep an eye out for this. For now, please pencil the 21st September into your diaries to ensure you are free to come along!

We would love to have as many alumni there as possible so please talk about this with other alumni that you know to make sure they know about it!

We look forward to hopefully seeing you on the 21st September 2023.

 

GAJE – THE LAW CLINIC GOES TO SOUTH AFRICA

(Left: Supervisors in front of Stellanbosch University law faculty. Right: Supervisors amongst other delegates at the conference.)

In December 2022, our law clinic director, Kate Laverty, and law clinic supervisors, Kathleen Bolt and Gillian Melville, took part in a 5-day interactive conference in Stellenbosch, South Africa, hosted by the Global Alliance for Justice Education (GAJE), The conference was attended by participants from countries all over the world, who came together to share and improve existing practices in social justice education. Gillian discusses the conference below.

Social justice education is twofold.

Firstly, it tackles inequality within the education system to minimise factors like wealth, gender and/or race from determining what kind of education an individual can receive. The University of Strathclyde’s successful widening access programme is an example of this type of social justice education in action.

Secondly, it introduces social justice into teaching methods and the curriculum. Instead of ignoring real-world issues such as racism, sexism, and poverty, it addresses and encourages students to exercise critical thinking in these matters, and to apply their knowledge to real cases so they can ‘learn by doing.’

Strathclyde law clinic has social justice education at its heart. Our student advisers show their commitment to access to justice through their casework and volunteerism, and some through their participation in the Clinic’s LLB programme. We showcased this at the GAJE conference by presenting a paper on student representation in courts and tribunals. The workshop was attended by delegates from Zimbabwe, Pakistan, India, the UK, South Africa, the USA, and more. Everyone in attendance was impressed by the level and quality of representation offered by students of Strathclyde Law Clinic and were inspired to explore the model in their own clinics.

Kathleen Bolt also ran a very well attended session called ‘Teaching by Doing: teaching students to mediate in 20 hours.’ This was an opportunity to promote experiential learning and demonstrate the value and impact of interactive teaching methods used here at Strathclyde. Cross-cultural mediation role plays during the session led to lots of interesting discussion.

Over the course of the 5-day conference, we attended workshops and talks on climate change, widening access, feminism, street law, and more, as well as taking part in social justice visits to hear about the initiatives taking place locally in Stellenbosch. One visit was to a community advice Centre in the heart of the winemaking region. The Centre provided legal advice and representation to rural workers, leading to improved housing and employment practices in the area, and a more empowered community.

The conference provided ample opportunity for interacting with people in plenaries and beyond, where we heard about a wide range of different issues facing different communities globally. Whilst many of the details varied, all countries shared a continuing and growing need for law clinics and social justice education.

Shockingly, according to one speaker, Stellenbosch is number one in the world for inequality of income. Like nearby Cape Town, this area of South Africa can feel incongruent, with wealth and luxurious tourist attractions sitting next to the tin roofs of the townships. Tied to this was the ongoing issue of ‘loadshedding’ which meant electricity was switched off completely for several hours a day. The opening speeches by the Faculty of Law at Stellenbosch University made it clear that there is much work to be done both in South Africa and globally, and at times it can feel that the direction of travel is downwards. However, these speeches were also hugely inspiring in their realism and hope for the future.

The GAJE conference always reignites a passion for social justice for those that attend. It reminds us that whilst our law clinics may at times feel isolated and small in their reach, we are all part of a committed global community who can and do support each other as we work towards improving the lives of our respective local communities. This feels particularly pertinent as we are faced with the challenges of climate change which requires global thinking and local action. The scale of challenge can feel overwhelming, but the message of GAJE is that every action contributes to the greater sum and, as they say in South Africa, Local is Lekker!

Many thanks to the Law School at Strathclyde for supporting this trip and the law clinic.

More details of the conference can be found here: https://www.gaje.org/11th-GAJE-Worldwide-Conference

We recommend supporting the Stellenbosch Township and Village social enterprise: https://townshipandvillage.co.za/about-us/

By Gillian Melville, Clinic Supervisor

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PRO BONO WEEK: WHAT IS SWRC?

As it is pro bono week we are keen to highlight one of our pro bono projects, SWRC. In this article our SWRC Coordinator, Amy Woodcock, explains what SWRC is, discusses her involvement in the project, and talks about the experience she has gained through the project.

(Amy Woodcock, Student Advisor and SWRC Coodinator)

The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (SWRC) is a collaboration between Rape Crisis, the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic, and Just Right Scotland. The main aim of the SWRC is to ensure that women in Scotland who have been affected by gender-based violence can access timely and appropriate legal advice and information. The SWRC began in 2015 working mainly in the central belt and has since expanded into other areas in Scotland. The SWRC is a feminist organization; our core belief is that violence against women and girls is a symptom of gender inequality.

The work carried out by the SWRC is indispensable as they seek to close the gap between women in society who have experienced gender-based violence and their access to justice. Not only do they represent survivors of abuse but they carry out  research and policy work to influence and improve the functions of the legal system for women.

I have been a volunteer for the SWRC for a year now and the experience I have gained has been invaluable. Not only have I developed my legal skills but also I have grown more aware of the modern-day issues affecting women within society. I can see how vital the work that the SWRC carry out is not only for their clients but for all women. The SWRC provides a variety of resources ranging from your rights in the criminal justice process to more recently your rights regarding Brexit. This is easy-to-access information that can offer guidance to anyone impacted.

I look forward to continuing working closely alongside the SWRC and being able to contribute to achieving their aims.

By Amy Woodcock, Student Advisor and SWRC Coordinator

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Pro Bono Week: Law Clinics and the Cost of Living Crisis (and our initial advice clinics)

During Pro Bono Week UK, the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic is seeking to recruit new volunteer solicitors to help at its fortnightly Initial Advice Clinics.

(Alasdair Flett, Student Advisor and IAC Coordinator)

Solicitors and law students both juggle competing commitments, whether commitments to clients or coursework. When you’re feeling the weight of a hefty workload, it can be difficult to find the time, literally and mentally, to participate in activities beyond your immediate professional and academic goals.

Remote Volunteering

Despite the last of Coronavirus-related restrictions lifting this year, many pre-pandemic activities have failed to resume in their previous manner, and the promised “bounce back” has been less elastic than anticipated. The legal profession had to make massive and radical adjustments to adapt to Covid-19. There were gains to be had from the switch to video conferencing and remote working, notably the extension of the range of clients you can see and the time saved by reduced travel.

Our experience in the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic, and particularly with our fortnightly Initial Advice Clinics, certainly reflected the benefits of remote volunteering (one of the six themes of Pro Bono Week UK), enabling us to assist clients from much further afield than typically possible and provide access to justice beyond our normal jurisdiction of the Greater Glasgow area.

At the start of this academic semester, however, we re-introduced in-person appointments while maintaining online appointments for those unable to make it to the Clinic building itself. It has been a joy to finally meet the dedicated volunteer solicitors who helped us to continue the service throughout the pandemic and thank them face-to-face for their commitment. Clients have also benefitted from having the option for human connection without the digital barrier.

What is an Initial Advice Clinic?

The Initial Advice Clinics, known internally as IACs, represent one of three advice streams provided by the student-led University of Strathclyde Law Clinic. They are a middle ground between full representation (for example, in Simple Procedure actions and Employment Tribunal claims) and our provision of researched bespoke written advice in response to email enquiries through our Online Project.

With the help of volunteer solicitors, every second Wednesday we can offer 30-minute appointments to clients whose legal issues either do not benefit from legal aid or for whom the cost of instructing a solicitor is financially prohibitive. Students lead the first part of this interview by “triaging” the client’s problem by asking questions to tease out information that could hold significance for the solicitor’s advice in the second part of the appointment.

Why volunteer at an Initial Advice Clinic?

My experience with the IACs has been highly educational and deeply rewarding. For anyone with an interest in social justice, it is an opportunity not only to witness first-hand the types of legal issues people are facing in today’s economic conditions but also in some small part, even at an individual level, to do something about them.

A real positive demonstrated by the Covid-19 pandemic was people’s willingness and desire to help in any way they could. Sadly much of this potentially productive spirit of solidarity was not mobilised and has been allowed to dissipate, channelled instead into a contactless, much more solipsistic conception of compassion.

Many volunteering drives respond to crises. Indeed, the first of the six themes of Pro Bono Week UK is “stepping forward when it matters”, which may be interpreted as “when crisis calls”. Several commentators have described our times as a state of “permacrisis”. If that is the case, then the call to volunteer must be met not with a single step but a constant forward march. That is not to say that the pace must always be maintained, and it might be the case you will need to stand at ease for weeks, or even months on end, when duty calls in other areas of your life.

The reality is that gaps in legal provision continue to exist, despite the law applying to everyone. We don’t live in an ideal world, and this means we need pro bono lawyers in the here and now. So, if you can spare a couple of hours, your dedication won’t go to waste!

Law Clinics and our “permacrisis”

It is impossible to ignore the systemic failings that have resulted in pay rates repeatedly failing to match inflation and the ensuing inevitable generalised face-offs between employers and employees; the neglect on the part of successive governments to actively address the housing crisis, forcing people into exploitative tenancies, and exceedingly profitable energy companies squeezing consumers as far as they dare, largely without sanction.

Volunteering at an Initial Advice Clinic will, in all likelihood, have a negligible effect on the meta-crisis engulfing most sectors of the economy at the moment. It can, however, have an effect on an individual’s personal crisis.

While the Employment Tribunal was established as a more accessible format for workers to resolve their disputes without the pressure of rigid and overly formal procedure, increased legalisation has meant self-representation has become a much more daunting prospect. Many of our cases arise from former or current employees concerned they will be denied redress because they don’t know tribunal etiquette or worry about an abundance of strict rules. One 30-minute consultation with a volunteer can set their mind at ease and empower them to accurately present their case.

A tenant may be asked to move by their landlord at short notice; they won’t be getting their deposit back, and the bathroom is full of unaddressed mould. The landlord gave her a two-page template agreement it looks like he took from the internet. The client feels she has no choice but to find somewhere else to live. She attends an IAC and realises she has rights and won’t be forced to leave.

These are just two examples of the typical situations encountered at an IAC. The cost of living crisis is pushing more and more people into the position where paying for a solicitor is not feasible. That has the inevitable consequence of people not being empowered to enforce their rights and having their access to justice denied. Yet you can fight against this. Even if it feels like taking a hand chisel to a mountain made of diamond, with that chisel you can turn someone’s personal crisis into clarity. You can have that transformative effect, and you need only give 30 minutes of your time.

How do I get involved?

The University of Strathclyde Law Clinic is currently seeking new volunteer solicitors to help at its fortnightly IACs. We particularly welcome solicitors who can advise on housing law relating to residential tenancies. Solicitors with expertise in employment law and consumer rights are also very welcome. If you can spare the time, we ask that you commit to one two-hour session per month, but if your are able to attend fortnightly we would not discourage more frequent participation.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Alasdair Flett, the Initial Advice Clinic coordinator, for further information: alasdair.flett.2020@uni.strath.ac.uk

By Alasdair Flett, IAC Coordinator and Student Advisor

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Pro Bono Week: The True Importance of Pro-Bono Legal Services

In this article one of our Student Directors, Paige Alexander, discusses the importance of pro bono work from the perspective of a Student Advisor within the Clinic. Paige also talks about some of the Clinic’s pro bono work and how undertaking pro bono work not only bridges the gap of access to justice, but also produces more compassionate and well-rounded legal professionals. 

The provision of pro-bono legal services within society is fundamental. It assists in preserving the Rule of Law, which is the foundation upon which our democratic society is built. The Rule of Law is essentially about ensuring that citizens are treated equally before the law, human rights are protected, and citizens can access efficient and predictable dispute resolution mechanisms. Unquestionably, this cannot be achieved by those without means, without the existence of pro-bono legal services.

Organisations, such as the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic, exist to provide access to justice. This is a basic principle of the Rule of Law which describes how citizens access equal justice within their legal systems. Regretfully many individuals face insurmountable barriers when seeking to access justice. Often, the most significant, is a financial barrier. It is no secret, that accessing legal advice and obtaining legal representation is costly, and many individuals within society simply cannot afford this expense. Consequently, such individuals are unable to access justice.

During my time as a Student Advisor, I have seen first-hand the invaluable impact of pro-bono legal services. For instance, over the last year, the Clinic provided legal assistance, in various forms, to 406 individuals via our various case streams and projects. Each of these 406 individuals, would not have been able to effectively access justice without the help of our services. This undoubtedly demonstrates the pressing need for pro-bono legal services and the true value of their work.

Throughout my time at the Clinic, I recognised the prevalence of the access to justice issue. Regrettably, this issue disproportionately affects certain groups within society, such as those belonging to lower socio-economic groups and some minority groups. In the absence a fully comprehensive legal aid system, pro bono legal services act as an antidote, helping to remedy this situation.

Although, elements of our justice system such as the Employment Tribunal and Simple Procedure, were created with the view of enabling individuals to represent themselves, in practice, for many clients this would not be possible for a variety of reasons. Without the assistance of pro-bono legal services, many of our clients would not be able to access justice due to an inability to adequately represent themselves.

The importance of our work can be illustrated through our success. Over the last year alone, we won/saved £160,295.31 for our clients. Additionally, we were at the forefront of a landmark decision which established long-covid as a disability. However, the outcomes of our cases vary, and the measure of success is subjective. For some of our clients, success takes the form of simply being able to access legal advice and representation, acknowledgement of unfair treatment or acceptance of liability from the Respondent, a good character reference, or payment of money owed to the client. For others, success takes the form of a well negotiated financial settlement or a legal judgment, in their favour, following a successful hearing. The Clinic exists to provide access to justice to those who need it most. Many of our clients are vulnerable and find themselves in particularly difficult situations and often appreciate simply having someone to advise and support them through their dispute. Even clients who attend a hearing that does not go in their favour, feel a measure of success, as our assistance and representation allows their narrative to be heard.

In addition to helping to bridge the gap by providing access to justice, being involved in the provision of pro-bono legal services, provides lawyers and law students with the opportunity to develop their legal skills. Among those skills, prioritised at the Law Clinic is a holistic trauma informed approach to client care. It is hoped that this approach produces more emotionally intelligent empathetic lawyers better able to serve their clients’ needs. This aligns with the true purpose of pro- bono work which is ‘for the public good’, as it assists in producing more compassionate and approachable legal professionals.

Since joining the Clinic, my passion to enabling access to justice for all individuals has been ignited. It is a privilege to be part of such an invaluable organisation working towards an honourable cause. The importance of the provision of pro-bono legal services is immeasurable and pro-bono work is integral within society.

By Paige Alexander, Student Advisor and Student Director

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