Lancaster University's student-run Law Clinic, which, this term, includes a new virtual service, is now booking client appointments.

The confidential clinics start on Monday 9 November and will run every Monday from 10am until 5pm and every Tuesday from 10am until 2pm until 1 December 2020 (inclusive).

The Law Clinic provides free legal advice on a range of legal issues, including consumer rights, education law, family law, small claims and landlord and tenant disputes. The Law Clinic has provided legal advice to more than 100 clients since summer 2019.

When working in the Law Clinic, students interview clients in pairs, conduct legal research and draft a letter of advice. The letter of advice is provided to the client within 21 days of the initial appointment. All legal advice is supervised by a qualified solicitor or barrister.

In light of the pandemic, client appointments will take place either via telephone or virtually using Microsoft Teams.

Virtual client interviews are a new service that will allow clients from across the UK to access free legal advice.

Farah Ali, a 2019/20 Law Clinic student, said: "The Law Clinic provides me with a valuable opportunity to bridge the gap between life as a Law student and life as a trainee solicitor.

“Further, it provides the local community in Lancaster the chance to accessibly obtain free legal advice. This is particularly important in a climate where legal aid support is scarcely available."

Head of the Law School, Professor Alisdair Gillespie, said: “Lancaster University Law Clinic provides much needed assistance to members of the public who might not otherwise be able to access free legal advice. The Law Clinic enables students to apply the law to real life problems, and it is great that clients will receive top notch legal advice at no charge!”

In addition to working in the Law Clinic, Lancaster University Law Students also write a monthly legal advice column for the Lancaster Guardian. The column provides guidance on topical legal issues.

To secure an appointment with the Law Clinic, please email lawclinic@lancaster.ac.uk. Alternatively, please use the client booking form available at https://www.lancasterlawclinic.co.uk/.