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Law Clinic participates in innovative ‘Free Advice for Our Times’ event

The Law Clinic recently took part in an exciting event at The Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh entitled ‘Free Advice for Our Times’.

The event comprised a day of free advice and information, allowing people to find out more about accessing their legal rights in a welcoming, collaborative environment. Several lawyers, charities and advice organisations attended the event. This included Shelter Scotland, The Rock Trust CHAI Edinburgh, Cyrenians and One Day Without Us.

This event ran alongside an exhibition of artwork by award-winning Glasgow artist, Jacqueline Donachie. The event aimed to combine practical advice with an artistic exploration into the way we support ourselves in society, a common theme in Donachie’s work.

As part of this event, students from the Law Clinic, Karen Yuill and Michelle Young, gave a presentation outlining what services law clinics across Scotland provide and explaining the breadth of legal issues we can assist with.  Acting Director, Kate Laverty, who attended the event commented:

“I am delighted that the Law Clinic was invited to participate in this event and explain the fantastic work of law clinics across the country. It was also great to speak to the number of organisations represented at the event doing fantastic work to tackle a number of social issues. It is heart-warming to see the number of services being provided across Scotland to help those in our society who really need it the most.”

A team of our student advisors then presented a video sampling our new initiative that will assist lay representatives in the Employment Tribunal.  A team of students are currently researching, developing, and creating videos outlining Employment Tribunal procedures. These will be made available as an online resource and will benefit several Employment Tribunal claimants who cannot afford a solicitor and face the daunting prospect of representing themselves.

This initiative is kindly supported by the University of Strathclyde Alumni Fund. The Alumni Fund donations are provided by graduates and friends of the University. This money is used to create opportunities for students across the University, including the opportunity to use their skills and knowledge to benefit others.

Student Advisor, Eilidh Campbell, who also attended the event said:

“This event was a great opportunity to network with organisations that share our values and aims. In particular, we met with organisations that we haven’t worked with before and who can provide additional services to our clients. This will enable us to provide better support to clients in future, especially with problems that are better dealt with by specialist, targeted organisations.”

 

Pride, Awe and Good Fortune: Ten Years On (February 2014)

Anniversaries are a time of heightened emotion. The Law Clinic’s Tenth Anniversary is no exception.

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I have not ceased to be amazed by the enthusiasm, commitment and courage of the students, who not only run the Clinic but also take on the best that legal and other professionals can throw at them whether in the small claims court or tribunals and now even in the intimidating atmosphere of the Sheriff Summary court and beyond.

Perhaps the most obvious emotion evoked is that of pride at what has been achieved in the last ten years: well over a thousand clients assisted, well over half a million pounds won or saved for them, as well as important other outcomes like saving people from eviction or losing their jobs, and a success rate for clients of over 90%. All of this before one counts the many other achievements which were not even part of my original vision: the public legal education programmes in prisons and schools, the investigation of miscarriages of justice through the Innocence Project, the setting up of evening Initial Advice Clinics staffed largely by our alumni, and various law reform and research projects all designed to improve access to justice.

The fact that these other projects came about largely because of the initiative and hard work of our student volunteers underlies the second emotion – that of awe. I have not ceased to be amazed by the enthusiasm, commitment and courage of the students, who not only run the Clinic but also take on the best that legal and other professionals can throw at them whether in the small claims court or tribunals and now even in the intimidating atmosphere of the Sheriff Summary court and beyond.

However, personally, perhaps the most pronounced emotion is the sense of good fortune that a combination of favourable factors has made possible the most rewarding experience of my career. Foremost among these is the student volunteers. However, it also includes a then head of Department with the vision of clinical legal education at Strathclyde and subsequently three very supportive heads of Departments, Faculty Deans, Principals, a series of efficient and warm Clinic administrators, and perhaps above all a University which takes seriously its mission to be a place of useful learning. Equally important in launching and sustaining the Clinic was the financial and other support, most notably in the form of training, from the local legal community and the recruitment of two of its members as supervisors, Kate Laverty and Annabell Fowles, to take the provision of services to a new level of professional competence. In reality, this list does not nearly do justice to the numerous people who have supported the clinic. It does, however, underlie the final emotion which all connected with the Clinic will feel – that of gratitude to all those who have made its success possible.