Foreword
This year we have continued promoting access to justice within our community and region through the provision of free legal guidance, increasing our client enquiries by 30% and providing over 100 clients with detailed legal advice. In the delivery of our service, we continue to pursue our aims of providing accurate, timely and detailed advice, reviewed by our network of pro bono solicitors, to whom we continue to be grateful.
In addition to those clients who have sought legal advice from us directly, we have received referrals from a diverse range of organisations including Ormiston Families, Citizens Advice, the Anglia Care Trust and the Business Support Service, demonstrating the broad nature of our client base. We are extremely grateful for the recognition which we have received for our work, including as finalists of the ‘Stars of Suffolk’ East Anglian Daily Times awards and being named ‘Project of the Year’ in the University’s own annual awards.
Producing our annual report is an opportunity for us to not only reflect upon our achievements but also to consider our future goals. In shaping those goals, we are inspired and influenced by James Hehir, whose vision and ambition for Ipswich shaped the establishment of our University. Described by many as ‘visionary’ and ‘inspirational,’ in his role as chief executive of Ipswich Borough Council, James transformed the lives of so many of our students by laying the foundations which ultimately led to the establishment and success of our institution. With this in mind, our goals for tomorrow are centred around our students and their future, to ensure that, in their time as volunteers at the Legal Advice Centre, they develop the skills and confidence necessary to flourish in their future careers.
Eleanor Scarlett Director Legal Advice Centre University of Suffolk
Introduction
Our Legal Advice Centre specialises in providing legal advice in two areas of law: family law and advice to new businesses, both of which are areas of law which we recognise as being hugely beneficial and relevant to the public and community in Suffolk.
Our student volunteers are passionate about delivering advice in those fields and in fact selected family law as one of our specialist areas when we first established our Legal Advice Centre.
This year, we have seen a huge increase in enquiries and our students have continuously developed their research, client-interviewing and written skills throughout the year. These skills are not only essential for the delivery of accurate legal advice but are equally transferable to the students’ academic studies.
We would like to thank our network of pro bono solicitors, who have assisted us in maintaining the quality of our expert legal advice.
Our staff
Eleanor Scarlett Director Megan Bailey Legal Assistant
Our pro bono solicitor
Richard Port MBE
Partner Family Law George Green Solicitors
volunteers
Paul Whittingham
Former Partner Corporate and Commercial Ashtons Legal
Andrew Tubb Partner Corporate Finance and Banking Birketts Solicitors
Benjamin Hargraves Senior Solicitor Commercial Radius Law Solicitors
Our team
Our student volunteers range from first-year Law students to third-year Law students.
Our student volunteers:
Amruthavarshini Vellalu Anandagiri
Ben Belson
Clare Free
Eleanor Chandler
Emily Larke
Eunice Mendonca
Honor McEvoy
Jessica Etherington
Sophie Butler
Tas Kaur-Singh
Tanja Peters
Phoebe Martin
Legal Assistant: Megan Bailey
"Continuing my role as Legal Assistant this year has been really rewarding, as we have continued to see a range of matters in both family law and business law.
“With the number of enquiries we have received, it has reinstated how important the University of Suffolk Legal Advice Centre is, both within the community and nationally, as clients often do not know where to begin with their matters or are confused by information provided by government websites.
“It has also been a learning experience for our students when researching, as they have found that changes in law, such as the changes in fees in family law from May 2024, have not been updated on the government website.
“I have found that being able to give feedback to our students (both new and returning volunteers) continuously throughout the year has meant that they have developed in confidence in their abilities, which has been a delight to see.
“Working with the Director and other supervising solicitors has also allowed me to continue to develop my practical legal knowledge, which I am very grateful for, and I am proud of what we have accomplished this academic year."
Clinical placement LAC: Ben Belson
In their second and third year, Law students have the opportunity to select the ‘Clinical Legal Practice’ module as one of their optional modules.
Our placement student this year is Benjamin Belson, who saw the Legal Advice Centre as a way to gain experience and broaden his knowledge of the law in a practical setting. Ben has both attended and led client interviews, obtaining skills that will benefit his future endeavours. Ben assisted and participated in our first Annual Law Lecture with Lady Hale, meeting Lady Hale herself. Ben says of his time n the law clinic:
“In my time at the law clinic, I developed my written skills further, learning how to draft letters to clients — a completely different approach to writing an academic essay. As a result of my experiences, I grew in confidence and now hope to pursue a career within the legal profession.”
Clinical placement Ellisons Solicitors: Tas Kaur‑Singh
We are hugely grateful to Ellisons Solicitors who offer one of our student volunteers a clinical placement in their firm every year. This year, Tas was their clinical placement student and she writes about her experiences here:
“Throughout my second year of my undergraduate degree, I have had the pleasure of spending seven months at Ellisons Solicitors. This has been an amazing opportunity, not only growing my network, but contributing to my legal knowledge and experience. I have predominantly sat in the Family Law Department with Francesca and have also gained experience in employment law, commercial property, and corporate law.
“Whilst on my placement, I have been able to broaden my knowledge about each area of family law. I have done this by attending client meetings, completing work for Francesca, attending a barristers conference, and understanding what a solicitor’s day is really like in this area of law. I have also been invited on many social events with the Family team.
“I have enjoyed completing some of the financial tasks, given to me by Francesca and Jessica. In my second week, I created a schedule of assets for a client who was experiencing a divorce. I was able to trail through the financial documents they had provided, in order to put together an information table. This would then be used to fill out a Form E, ready for financial disclosure to take place, with the other side.
“Overall, I have had an amazing time on my placement at Ellisons Solicitors. I am so thankful for this opportunity, as I have expanded my knowledge in many different areas of law, which will contribute to my knowledge at the Legal Advice Centre. I have also thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Francesca and her team, and that has been down to everyone at the firm being incredibly welcoming!”
Our work
Under expert supervision from our Director and pro bono solicitors, the student volunteers have provided written legal advice to our clients on a wide range of issues.
Our advice service begins by providing our clients with an initial one-hour consultation where we obtain information about their matter. To make sure we are accessible to all clients, we offer this appointment either in person or via an online appointment on Microsoft Teams.
Clients then receive written advice, within 7–10 working days of the interview, drafted by our students and supervised by our expert solicitors who are specialists in those areas of law.
Family law advice
Child Arrangements Orders
Legal Aid eligibility
Parental responsibility
Occupation Orders and Non Molestation Orders
Divorce
Financial Orders
Completing C100 forms
Facts and figures
Business law advice
Company structure
Shareholder Agreements
Intellectual property
Business plans
Franchises
In the 2023–2024 academic year, we received 116 enquiries; six Prison Service enquiries, 11 New Businesses/ Start-Ups enquiries, 53 family law enquiries and 46 miscellaneous enquiries.
Since our pilot in 2022, we have seen an increase in all enquiries, which we have displayed in the graph below. Within this graph, the Prison Service enquiries are included within the family law statistics.
Advice given in 2023–2024
Number of
Our work
Anglia Care Trust
The Anglia Care Trust has continued to refer clients to us for legal advice, with clients often having been affected by domestic abuse. In addition to providing legal advice, where eligible, we refer clients for legal aid.
The Anglia Care Trust says, “we are so grateful for your continued support.”
Our legal advice, which is delivered in writing by students to our family clients, is supervised and reviewed by the Director of our Legal Advice Centre and our specialist family solicitor, Richard Port of George Green Solicitors, who was awarded an MBE in 2023 for legal services to victims of domestic abuse. This level of review ensures our letters maintain a high standard of advice.
Prison project with HMP Hollesley Bay
We have continued to give pro bono advice to prisoners at HMP Hollesley Bay, completing numerous C100 forms for prisoners, and advising on other family law matters. We have received some really positive feedback regarding the applications of the C100 forms, with five of the enquiries so far this year resulting in contact with their children.
New Businesses/Start‑ Ups Clinic
Our New Businesses/Start-Ups clinic has continued to expand, with the addition of Paul, Ben and Andrew supporting us with this. We would like to thank them for their support.
In addition to new businesses, we have also received enquiries from more established organisations.
Our business clinic operates in a slightly different manner, in that our pro bono solicitors attend client meetings, alongside our students, where possible. All legal advice given at such a meeting is documented in writing and checked by our supervising solicitor, before being sent to clients. Sending a follow-up letter in this way ensures that clients do not miss any advice provided in the meeting, as matters are sometimes complex and can be overwhelming.
Training for our student volunteers
As always, our student volunteers (both new and returning) had two days of training before recommencing our client interviews this academic year. The training gave an overview of the Legal Advice Centre and its systems, as well as sessions regarding the two different areas of law we offer: family law and business law.
The students also had a follow-up session in February, regarding attendance notes and interviewing clients, to help consolidate their skills.
This was continuously reinstated with feedback each week on several different tasks, from research, to writing attendance notes, to drafting letters of advice.
Feedback to and from student volunteers
Throughout the academic year, we had multiple feedback sessions, in which the students had an opportunity to discuss their experiences so far. Below are some of their responses:
“Very positive; I have enjoyed interviewing the clients and making the attendance notes.”
“Helpful in terms of building my confidence and establishing a way to contribute to the local community. It has been a good way to be introduced to the law in a professional and real-life setting.”
“I have gained confidence through taking the lead in interviews.”
“It has been good so far; I was very grateful to have helped and attended the Lady Hale event. Being able to attend client interviews is interesting and is something I enjoy.”
“My experience has been successful in building upon what I learnt last year and has been enjoyable in terms of the extra responsibility I have gained this year.”
“My experience has allowed me to develop my interviewing skills/techniques, which has benefitted my placement and other employment opportunities.”
“Being able to lead interviews has helped me to see that I have improved throughout this year and that my confidence has grown.”
Student experience: Eunice Mendonca, third‑year student
“Being a volunteer this year at the LAC was different to volunteering in previous years. I had the opportunity to be a supervisor for several interviews, supporting both first-year and second-year students.
“It has helped to develop my confidence to pursue my goal of becoming a solicitor and, due to this, I am going to complete my SQE1 training and sit the exam in January 2025, alongside my Master’s degree at the University of Suffolk.”
Client testimonials
“Thank you again for the guidance you were able to give. It really was very, very helpful and very reassuring.”
“The service was fantastic. The advice given has been taken and I’m now on the way to resolving my issue.”
“Great work, from a great team, and the response came just in time.”
Website and social media
“A massive thank you to Eleanor.”
“He had his first hearing last Thursday and it couldn’t have gone better — there’s not any requirement for another hearing, all wrapped up in one hearing with contact schedule started! He was over the moon and extremely grateful so thank you!”
Students helped to develop our website, including its layout and the content which should be included within it.
Our website is continuously updated with information regarding what we do. This includes information about the areas in which we advise, as well as news and blogs by our students. It also contains information about our achievements this year, including the awards which we have won and been nominated for.
Our LinkedIn page also documents our work and achievements throughout the year and is continuously updated.
Suffolk and North Essex Law Society 87th Presidential Dinner
The Director of our Legal Advice Centre and our Legal Assistant had the pleasure of attending the Suffolk and North Essex Law Society (SNELS) 87th President’s Annual Dinner in October 2023.
It was a great evening and lovely to see so many people from different legal backgrounds come together to support the chosen charities, Suffolk Law Centre and MIND.
University of Suffolk ‘Stars of Suffolk’ Staff Awards
We were incredibly proud to be awarded ‘Project of the Year’ on Friday 20 October 2023 at the University of Suffolk ‘Stars of Suffolk’ Staff Awards.
It was fabulous to be presented our award by comedian and honorary graduate, Jo Brand, who presented awards to all eight categories, for which there were 322 nominations in total.
We would like to say thank you to everyone who has supported us and congratulations to everyone who was nominated, highly commended and the winners!
Inaugural Annual Law Lecture with Lady Hale
In November 2023, the University of Suffolk Legal Advice Centre had the pleasure of hosting our inaugural Annual Law Lecture. We were delighted to welcome Lady Hale as our first guest speaker.
The evening saw Law students from the University of Suffolk, alumni and local law practitioners and organisations within Suffolk and the surrounding areas come together to support this event. The lecture started with an introduction by our Director, Eleanor Scarlett. She spoke about some of the Legal Advice Centre’s biggest achievements and the impact it has had within the community.
Following this, Amanda Timcke, President of the Suffolk and North Essex Law Society, spoke about the next generation of lawyers, and how events like the Annual Law Lecture help to promote and interest more individuals in joining the legal profession. Miranda Horvath, Director of the Institute for Social Justice and Crime, then spoke about her research and the impact Lady Hale’s career has had on the everyday life of many people, in terms of the legislation which she has spearheaded throughout her career.
Lady Hale, who was the first female Justice of the Supreme Court, then gave a truly inspirational talk about her legal career and some of her most memorable cases, including the court ruling in 2019 that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s advice to the Queen requesting the prorogation of Parliament, in the lead up to the October 31 Brexit deadline, was indeed “unlawful.” This was a fascinating talk and the Q and A session that followed enabled a wider discussion around the topics.
A drinks reception followed in the foyer, which allowed our audience to network, in addition to which Aldeburgh Bookshop had a pop-up stand with Lady Hale’s Spider Woman for sale and book signing.
We had some brilliant feedback from our guests about the event, including that it was “a highlight of their career” and “amazing.”
Ben Belson at the Lady Hale event
“As the placement student for the Legal Advice Centre, I was given the opportunity to attend the Lady Hale event and was also able to assist in preparing the venue. Prior to the event starting, a group of student volunteers and I were allocated roles for the evening. My role was to hand out the programmes to those who attended the event, and from this, I had many conversations with people who were sharing their excitement about hearing Lady Hale give her talk.
“Our Director of the Legal Advice Centre, Eleanor Scarlett, introduced me, along with the second-year volunteers, to Lady Hale before the event began. She spoke to us all individually during this, and I am very grateful to have been in a position where I was fortunate enough to have had this interaction with a person of such influence and importance in the legal community and law itself.
“Within her lecture, Lady Hale spoke about some of her more significant cases, and how it has changed how we view and interpret certain statutes today. She also spoke of some of her earlier cases and how her career progressed.
“After her talk, food and drinks were served, allowing everyone that attended to talk amongst one another and, more importantly for myself, network with the individuals who attended. The law students in attendance were able to speak to practicing solicitors and/or barristers from numerous local law firms and hear about the profession firsthand. In doing so, I was offered further opportunities that I would not have otherwise had.
“Once again, I could not be more grateful to have had this experience. From preparing for the event to speaking to Lady Hale, the experience as a whole was incredible, and I am very thankful to those who made it possible.”
East Anglian Daily Times ‘Stars of Suffolk’ Awards
We were delighted to be shortlisted as a finalist in the 2023–2024 East Anglian Daily Times ‘Stars of Suffolk’ Awards, in the category of ‘Teams/Community Group of the Year.’
East Anglian Daily Times
The awards were hosted by Liz Nice, Editor of the Ipswich Star and East Anglian Daily Times. Following the event, Liz Nice visited Legal Advice Centre Director Eleanor Scarlett and Legal Assistant Megan Bailey to find out more about the work of the Legal Advice Centre after being nominated in the awards.
See the article here
Ipswich Crown Court — developing my legal knowledge: Eunice Mendonca
The University student shadowing scheme gives students who are considering a career in law an insight into the work of a judge.
The scheme aims to provide a first-hand experience of a judge’s work and to inspire the next generation of legal professionals.
Eunice’s experience:
“I was very privileged and grateful to be given a second day of work experience at the Crown Court. This time my experience was different from my previous visit, as I knew what to expect once I walked into the Court building and, therefore, I felt more comfortable and confident to spend the day there.
“I was able to meet different people in multiple departments, whom I had not met on my previous visit, before being shown where the clerks prepare the Judge’s daily agenda.
“After this, I met HHJ Levett in the judge’s library, where he explained his agenda for the day and what he expected from me as a student shadowing him. I was so pleased when HHJ Levett said he remembered me from my previous visit and my ambitions to become a barrister! I felt so amazed that Judge Levett, even with a busy schedule, still remembered me — a student who only spent one day with him during my previous work experience. It gave me reassurance that judge-shadowing means a lot to judges, as well as to students, as they are sharing what their day entails, to help motivate students for future careers in the legal profession.
“When we entered the Court, the barristers were waiting for HHJ Levett. I was allowed to sit on the bench, which I felt very privileged to do! The case we saw was regarding a murder; the prosecution explained the case and then we were given an insight of how the morning would proceed. The jury had been selected the day before, so when they walked into the courtroom, they knew exactly where to sit and what to do. I had the opportunity to listen to the prosecution and also learn how CCTV footage is used in court (which I did not know previously) and how this could be used as evidence in a case.
“During lunch, I stayed with the judges, where Judge Levett said to sit at the top of the table. I felt very surprised to be asked to sit in that seat, as five other Judges also came and sat at the table to eat their lunch, but it made me feel very welcome.
“In the afternoon, I sat in on more cases and, in total, HHJ Levett presided over six cases in the same day, which was really impressive.
“I had a fantastic day, and it was another great experience at Court. I would encourage more students to take this opportunity, as judgeshadowing helps to develop certain skills, such as communication skills in particular when speaking with the judiciary and barristers.”
Mock trial for Norfolk Trading Standards
A number of our student volunteers assisted in the mock trial training for Trading Standards in January 2024.
One of our students, Sophie Butler, volunteered to be the usher for the trial. Below is a short paragraph about her experience:
“It was a valuable experience to be involved in a court process and to demonstrate to myself my growing strength in confidence and progression in skills I have been focusing on throughout my degree.”
Another student, Eleanor Chandler, volunteered as a member of the jury. She spoke about her experience below:
“Watching the mock trial as a jury member allowed me to view a case from both the perspective of a Law student and from the perspective of somebody without legal knowledge.”
This was a great experience for our students and helped them to consolidate their own knowledge from the criminal law module which they had previously completed.
Internal awards ceremony
To celebrate the academic year at the Legal Advice Centre, in the final week of term we had an internal mini awards ceremony to recognise the work of our student volunteers.
This year’s Legal Advice Centre ‘Student Volunteer of the Year’ was Sophie Butler. Congratulations, Sophie!
Year
Sophie Butler Student Volunteer of the
Alumni of the Legal Advice Centre
Since the University of Suffolk Legal Advice Centre was established in 2022, we have had multiple cohorts who have graduated and are now alumni of the University of Suffolk. We asked some of our alumni student volunteers about their time and experience at the Legal Advice Centre, and how the skills they developed have helped them since graduating.
Molly Bailey, graduated in 2022
I graduated from the University of Suffolk in 2022 and, since then, I have been working at Ellisons Solicitors as a paralegal in the Commercial Property Team, where I am also studying and training for my Solicitors Qualifying Exam.
I started at the Legal Advice Centre in 2021. My time at the LAC allowed me to strengthen my communication skills through leading client interviews which exposed me to different areas of law and the issues which can arise within them.
Additionally, my confidence developed throughout my time at the LAC, which I attribute to leading the client interviews and also writing the subsequent letters of advice.
As the LAC was set up in my final year of university, it meant that I had to manage my time effectively, as I was balancing modules with volunteering at the LAC. This skill has helped me in my job, as I am able to effectively manage different matters that I assist with and am also able to balance studying for my SQE.
I would like to thank Eleanor for her support during my time there, as I found the opportunity invaluable, and I am grateful that I was able to be a part of the LAC during my degree. I would highly recommend joining the LAC to any future or current students, as the skills that you pick up will help you prepare for your future career, whether that’s in the legal sector or not.
I wish the Legal Advice Centre all the best for the future!
Megan Bailey, graduated in 2022
I graduated from the University of Suffolk in 2022, and was lucky enough to join the Legal Advice Centre during my final year.
During this time, I was able to interview clients, and consequently research and write letters of advice for them. Being able to research into the areas and matters which the clients came to us about was really beneficial, as it allowed me to develop my knowledge in other areas of law, which I had previously not studied within my chosen modules. Due to this, my research skills improved, which ultimately assisted me when writing my dissertation.
Additionally, during my time volunteering at the LAC, I was able to lead client interviews which increased my confidence and ultimately my communication skills, which has aided me within both of my jobs.
Since graduating from the University of Suffolk, I work part-time as the Legal Assistant at the LAC, and I also teach A-Level Law and Business part-time at Suffolk One College. Alongside this, I am completing my SQE in my own time, to qualify as a solicitor.
I am extremely grateful for all of the opportunities which the LAC has provided me, and continues to provide me, with and am proud to be part of its success.
Shakira Akinyombo, graduated in 2023
After completing my LPC LLM in June, I am now working as a Residential Property Paralegal for Gardner Leader LLP.
I joined the Legal Advice Centre in my second year at the University of Suffolk. I was a part of the original team that helped to found the clinic in 2021.
Joining the LAC was a fantastic opportunity that only furthered my career in law. From the beginning, the clinic allowed me to grow in my communication, public speaking, legal, teamwork and problem-solving skills. It also enabled me to understand the practical aspects of what I was learning in my actual degree. Not only that, when writing my dissertation in my final year, it played a pivotal role in aiding me in my research.
I often find the legal training I had, from writing legal advice and documents to client interaction and research, has been a huge help in strengthening my approach in my day-to-day working life. The clinic built in me an infrastructure that has supported, and will continue to support, me in my career.
I will forever be grateful for the time I had at the University of Suffolk and believe the law clinic is a fantastic agency that provides free and great legal advice to the public. I wish the Advice Centre and the team nothing but success.
Eunice Mendonca, graduated in 2024
At present, I am completing my SQE1 and starting my Master’s in Criminal Law and Justice at the University of Suffolk in September 2024, alongside my work. I also volunteer with Citizens Advice once a week, which helps with the work experience aspect for the SQE.
I joined the Legal Advice Centre in my first year at the University of Suffolk in September 2021, and volunteered throughout my studies until I finished in May 2024. Being part of the LAC truly helped me to understand the reality of communicating with clients daily. It also helped me to build up my confidence, knowledge and experience.
Additionally, I have acquired more of an understanding about researching and writing letters to clients, which has helped within my studies, as I have learned how to be more organised.
The skills which I have developed in the LAC I am already putting into practice when I volunteer with Citizens Advice and will continue to do so when I am studying for my SQE exam. This will be a massive help for my future career, as it has helped me to be more confident.
I had the opportunity to complete my placement with the LAC and, from this, I gained many networking opportunities, for which I am very grateful.
I am looking forward to the year ahead, with the possibility of carrying on volunteering at the LAC, alongside my Master’s.
Honor McEvoy, graduated in 2024
I graduated from the University of Suffolk in 2024, and am now working at Ellisons Solicitors as a Trainee Solicitor.
I began volunteering at the Legal Advice Centre in my first year at the University of Suffolk, and found it to be very beneficial, not only towards my studies but to develop my skills. This helped me secure a placement at Ellisons Solicitors for my ‘Clinical Legal Placement’ module in my second year, in which I experienced how a law firm operated and learnt more in regard to family law.
After I completed this, I attended the Ellisons Vacation Scheme in 2023. This led to me applying for a training contract at Ellisons, which I began after I graduated in 2024. Before I began the role, in April 2024 I started as paralegal for the Rural Affairs team.
I am very grateful to the Legal Advice Centre for giving me the opportunity to develop my skills, and to have given me numerous networking opportunities throughout my degree.
Future work
We are delighted to be welcoming Sir Brian Leveson as our next guest lecturer in November 2024.
We will continue to build our professional network.
We will continue to grow our cohort of student volunteers with our annual student volunteer recruitment.
Family law and business law clinics to continue to develop.
We hope to work alongside the Institute for Social Justice and Crime in shared projects.
Conclusion
This year’s report has shown the hard work of our staff, students and pro bono solicitors, and how our students have developed their skills and knowledge throughout their time at the Legal Advice Centre.
We would like to extend our thanks to our volunteer solicitors who continue to support us; Richard Port MBE of George Green Solicitors, Andrew Tubb of Birketts Solicitors, Paul Whittingham formerly of Ashtons Legal Solicitors, and Benjamin Hargraves of Radius Law.
If you have any ideas or suggestions for the Legal Advice Centre in the future, then please do not hesitate to contact us.
Waterfront Building, 19 Neptune Quay Ipswich IP4 1QJ
Tel: 01473 338000
Email: legaladvicecentre@uos.ac.uk