SCHOOL OF LAW: LEGAL ADVICE CENTRE Foreword

We have been delighted to operate the Legal Advice Centre for its 8th year and we are thrilled to be back to offering face to face advice. With thanks to our fantastic in-house staff and students, external volunteers and support from the University, we have been able to assist more clients than ever before.

The need for pro-bono legal advice across all sectors has only increased since the pandemic and will likely increase further as we enter into this cost of living crisis. We have certainly seen a rising demand at the Legal Advice Centre this year. This report highlights some of the great work we have undertaken this year, none of which would be possible without our brilliant students and external volunteer solicitors from local firms who very kindly give up their time to support our students and the community. At the end of this exceptionally busy year, we are delighted to be moving into new purpose built premises in the City Centre which will greatly enhance our accessibility for the local community as well as the learning experience for our students. We are developing innovative new clinics in the field of Community Economic Development and Exceptional Case Funding, which also form part of our work developing impactful research as part of the Centre for the Study of Law in Theory and Practice.

The Legal Advice Centre will be fully integrated into the LLB Law curriculum at every level from September onwards, making us one of the biggest and most inclusive law clinics in Europe. From September 2022, our third year students who choose to work in the Legal Advice Centre will spend a year with us developing in-depth knowledge of a subject area and allowing us to assist even more members of our community access the legal advice they require, including outreach work with our local courts and foodbanks.

Our thanks go to: n The 435 students who have worked in the Legal Advice Centre this year and have successfully supported and advised clients through what is often an incredibly distressing time in the client’s life. They have coped admirably with coming back into the face to face world following the pandemic and we are very grateful for their professionalism. n Our 40+ local solicitor volunteers who give up their valuable time to help us achieve our aims. We are proud and grateful to have the support of volunteers from Brabners, Broudie Jackson Canter, Crawfords, DTM, Hill Dickinson, Jackson Lees, Liverpool City Council, Maxwell Hodge, MSB, Morecrofts, Thompsons, and Weightmans.

Rachel Stalker Solicitor & Clinical Legal Education Programme Leader

“I thought the service was fantastic. The representative from the Solicitors was very helpful, and advised me on the query I had in regards to my current situation. Many thanks for this service as it has helped me greatly.”

“I am very grateful to have this service available to the general public. Any advice you give is very much appreciated. My circumstances dictate I could not afford to engage the services of a solicitor so I am grateful for all the help/ advice given. Thank you.”

“Really appreciate the time and support I was offered today it was extremely helpful.”