The Law Clinic is widely regarded as upholding ‘Access to Justice’ through its provision of pro bono legal services for its clients. Another outcome that is perhaps less well recognised, is the access to quality legal work experience that the clinic provides to students who might be prevented from gaining this type of experience elsewhere. In a field known to be highly competitive, this is invaluable for many students, and I personally believe that the law clinic makes incredible leaps in advancing social mobility in this regard.

I secured my place at the law clinic in 2022. Any prospective law student who wishes to join the clinic completes an application form and interview which, if successful, leads to them being allocating a place as a student advisor. This recruitment process allows students from diverse and unique backgrounds to showcase their respective strengths and experience. Whilst this may be perceived to be standard industry practice, some law students continue to experience social and economic barriers when attempting to secure legal work experience elsewhere in the sector.

The Sutton Trust, a social mobility charity, recently found that graduates from more affluent backgrounds were almost 20% more likely to have undertaken a legal internship. Location also matters, with the Trust finding that those in London were significantly more likely to have undertaken an internship than those in Scotland and elsewhere. The research also notes that internships are almost twice as likely to be secured through family and friends, compared to through formal advertisement, further contributing to the widening access gap.

In my view, the law clinic really does help to bridge this gap. While still being predominantly voluntary, it provides students with opportunities to become part of a legal community, helping them connect and develop relationships with internal and external legal practitioners. This is achieved through a variety of ways, including working on real life cases, supporting volunteer solicitors at a bi-monthly Initial Advice Clinic, or meeting with alumni and supporters at events arranged and hosted by the clinic. It also provides some paid opportunities for students to continue their work experience over the summer months through a formal application process.

By providing these opportunities, I believe that the law clinic plays an important role in overcoming some of the barriers to the legal job market that I have described above. By giving students access to flexible working experiences that can be worked around studies, employment, and care commitments, the law clinic makes a real effort towards lessening the gap of opportunity that currently exists. It reassures me that merit can and should ultimately lead you to where you want to be. Therefore, to me, the law clinic goes beyond providing ‘access to justice’ in the traditional sense. It also provides access of opportunity for students irrespective of their background or external circumstances. This to me encompasses the wider ethos of the clinic: to advance justice for the entirety of its community, clients and students alike.

By Basmah Hussain, Third Year LLB Student