This year’s Law Clinic Annual Review 2015_16 (PDF, 682kB) outlines how the rising demand for Law Clinic services is recognition of the difficulties people face in finding accessible advice – a consequence of cuts to legal aid which leaves many feeling that they are left without a viable option for getting the justice they rightly deserve.

The partnerships the Law Clinic has forged throughout the year has increased both the number of people it can help – and the diversity of support it provides students to develop the skills they need to deal with real law and real lives.

The development of a drop-in model with partners CLIC Sargent and Bristol Drugs Project, is already seeing the Law Clinic reach more people in the most effective way.  Meanwhile, partnerships with academic staff, local law firms and alumni will see students graduate with the softer skills prospective employers are looking for.

John Peake, Director of the Law Clinic, commented;

Turning down a case is always difficult, knowing we are likely to be delaying, if not denying completely, a person’s access to justice. It is our hope that within the next two years we will be able to offer ten per cent of all law students the opportunity to experience the Law Clinic during their studies – and with that comes an opportunity to reach more people.

Creating an environment where students learn through the provision of legal advice not only enriches their lives – but can fundamentally change the lives of those they are supporting. We are hugely grateful to the support of colleagues, students and alumni donors for helping us turn our vision for the Law Clinic into a reality.