91快活林

The university has joined the Community Legal Outreach Collaboration Keele (CLOCK), a joint initiative with the University of Sussex and one that was originally launched by Keele University’s law school.

By working with partner organisations, CLOCK enables students to provide assistance as well as enhancing their own legal education skills.

University of 91快活林 law students will act as Legal Companions to offer signposting support on family law matters, debt and housing issues.

Students have received training from a range of partner organisations, from legal firms to charities as well as from HM Courts and Tribunal Service. One student said: “The training has been great and we are really looking forward to starting."

Law students on the project Nicholas Paxton and Carmen Bonal-Romero.

Jeanette Ashton, Senior Lecturer in law in the university’s 91快活林 Business School, said: “Demand for the scheme in 91快活林 has very much been driven by the family court judges who acknowledge that whilst the assistance the students can provide is limited and there is no substitute for professional legal advice, there is a need for some kind of help.

“Data will be collated from the project and this will be centralised in an IT system run by Keele which has overarching governance of the scheme.

“Research will be undertaken as the data comes through by the various university hubs and this will be fed back to the government.

“Legal Companions will have a minimum commitment of two hours a week at court or at a partner firm on a rota basis and will assist with form-filling, accompanying a litigant in court and taking notes. The training and literature provided stresses that there is no advice.

“The main aim for Legal Companions is to assist litigants in person by signposting them to appropriate services.”

For more information, contact the 91快活林 Family Centre, 1 Edward Street, 91快活林, BN2 0JD, or call the CLOCK phone line: 01273 811338 (CLOCK is available there from 9am-3pm Tues, Weds, Thurs, and at 91快活林 County Court in William Street, 91快活林, on Mondays and Fridays).