Birmingham
Pro bono
Birmingham has been strongly committed to pro bono since 2001. We offer a variety of opportunities and aim to help you enhance your learning and career prospects through practical, real-life experience.
One of our partnership programmes, Birmingham Legal Advice Clinic (BLAC), was winner of a LawWorks Award 2010 in the Best Partnership category. Our pro bono centre was shortlisted for a Birmingham Law Society Award in one of the 'Law Firm of the Year' categories in both 2010 and 2011.
If you are thinking of studying with us and have further questions about pro bono after reading the information below, please e-mail rebecca.parker@lawcol.co.uk. If you are a current student, please access the pro bono pages for Birmingham on the 'my centre' tab of Elite.
Here are just some of the opportunities on offer at our centre:
Streetlaw programme
Legal Advice Centre
Pro bono placements
Streetlaw programme
Pioneered by The College of Law in partnership with the Citizenship Foundation and international law firm Eversheds, the Streetlaw programme raises legal awareness in communities and is designed with GDL students in mind. You could get involved by talking in a school, a women’s shelter, a prison or to a group of asylum seekers – helping people who need to understand how the law affects them. The ‘Your day in court’ programme takes Streetlaw into the country’s largest secondary school – Great Barr. The College sponsors the school’s converted court classroom.
Partner comments:
“Streetlaw is an excellent programme which gives students from The College of Law an opportunity to research and present key areas of law to their local community. Eversheds’ partnership with the College enables the students to experience first hand how a full service international law firm functions. Streetlaw promotes teamwork and ensures both students and trainees alike meet the ever changing needs of local communities throughout the UK.”
Nathan Pritchard, trainee solicitor, Eversheds
Students most enjoyed:
“The responsibility of carrying out independent research on a new legal area, working towards a goal and having to manage my own work and working as part of a committed team.”
“The presentation itself was highly rewarding. The students participated in our activities and were enthusiastic and attentive.”
“The team aspect of the programme – we worked well together and became good friends, making the whole experience more rewarding and enjoyable.”
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Legal Advice Centre (LAC)
This casework programme gives you valuable first-hand experience of client relationships, legal research and drafting – particularly useful for LPC students.
The LAC has specialised in non-urgent employment, family law and related issues such as housing. The LAC is an affiliate member of the Law Centres Federation and is supported by Wragge & Co, Shakespeare Putsman Solicitors and (from 2011) Irwin Mitchell.
Partner comments:
“Pro bono work is a vital component of the legal profession’s offering to the wider community within which we operate. For us, the programmes we run with The College of Law in Birmingham are fundamental to that approach – they give members of the community access to legal advice that they might not otherwise be able to get. The partnership between the students at the College and Wragge & Co and other firms in the city continues to be a strong one and, importantly, one that directly benefits those people most in need of advice. The commitment and enthusiasm from students at the College is top rate as ever.”
Lorna Gavin, Wragge & Co’s Head of Corporate Responsibility
“Shakespeare Putsman is committed to supporting the development of Birmingham’s future lawyers. Combining our experienced solicitors’ know-how with the energy and passion of the College of Law students is an exciting way to get involved with the talent of tomorrow as well as providing an invaluable service to the community.”
Shakespeare Putsman
“The College’s pro bono projects help to facilitate access to justice, a crucial component of society, in the local community. Irwin Mitchell is committed to pro bono as part of the firm’s social responsibility programme and are happy to be working in partnership with the students and team at the College, where pro bono has gone from strength to strength and provides a fantastic service to the local community.”
Ann Hunter, Solicitor and Pro Bono Co-ordinator at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office
Students most enjoyed:
“Interviewing the client and attending meetings with our supervising solicitor at his office.”
“Being able to progress a case from initial interview through to giving advice and closing the case.”
“Working for a real person with a real problem. It was nice to think that our advice would really help our client.”
“This was a valuable experience through which I learned how to gather facts from the client.”
“All of it, but particularly writing the advice letter – this helped my drafting skills and allowed me to apply the law to the facts practically and effectively.”
Client comments:
“I have used the service before and found it to be a good service. Using it again, I think it is an excellent service. Keep up the good work and thank you.”
“Thank you very much for the advice – the student advisors were professional and helpful.”
“The service received was excellent.”
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Pro bono placements
The experience of working with real clients on a pro bono placement is invaluable. We have opportunities for LPC, BPTC and GDL students in our in-house/outreach services as well as external placements with a variety of organisations.
Birmingham Employment Rights Advice Line (BERAL)
The service, now going into its 9th year has advised over 1,300 clients. We currently have 13 lawyers from five firms/chambers volunteering to advise clients, assisted by students. BERAL has also been winner of the YSG Pro Bono Awards in the Best Team category.
Students most enjoyed:
“Interviewing the clients about a variety of employment matters. It was very relevant to my employment elective. I do not think this placement could have been better. I thoroughly enjoyed taking part and am grateful for the experience.”
“Having responsibilities and feeling like I was a working professional!”
“Getting the opportunity to experience employment law firsthand, dealing with the clients and being able to help.”
“One of the key points of BERAL was helping real people, it was why I signed up and the experience lived up to expectations.”
Client comments:
“I used BERAL because it was highly recommended to me – your service is excellent, I can think of nothing to improve it.”
“I was very impressed with the service provided. The solicitor I spoke to was extremely helpful and I had 30 minutes advice by phone – excellent!”
“All my questions were answered – an excellent service. Everything was done perfectly and it is good that such a service exists.”
Birmingham Employment Advice Clinic (BEAC)
This employment advice clinic is an outreach service of the College’s Legal Advice Centre. Specialist employment lawyers from the Employment Lawyers Association (ELA) work on a rota to provide the legal advice.
The service is designed to give free initial employment advice and assistance. Individual client sessions are by appointment, with follow-up in writing.
Students assist by setting up files and confirming client appointments, greeting clients at reception, taking initial details, managing files, shadowing the advice sessions and getting involved with follow-up work where appropriate. Students benefit particularly from contact with clients and gain experience in file management.
Student comments:
“This gave me a real insight into how employment law operates in practice.”
“I most enjoyed seeing how lawyers help solve clients’ problems, the interaction with the lawyers and clients, and gaining an insight into interviewing and advising techniques.”
“The experience allowed me to work independently, use skills learnt on the LPC and be responsible for ensuring that the Clinic ran as smoothly as possible.”
“The lawyer asked my opinion on certain advice and what I thought was the best option for the client, which allowed me to have an active role.”
Client comments:
“Very relieved to have received the advice. I managed to work out how to move ahead with my employment problem – thank you.”
“Absolutely superb service – have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who needs initial advice.”
“The service I have received today has been excellent – very clear and concise. My appointment started/ended on time and I was welcomed by all personnel I met today – thank you.”
Refugee Council
The Refugee Council is the largest organisation in the UK working with asylum seekers and refugees, giving direct help and support and also working with them to ensure their needs and concerns are met. Refugee Council caseworkers hold appointment sessions to give individual advice and support to asylum seekers and refugees to help them rebuild their lives.
Students shadow Refugee Council caseworkers and become involved with additional work where appropriate. This is an opportunity for students to gain an insight in human rights work for people who have suffered hardship in war and civil strife and who are often facing return to the same conditions they fled.
Student comments:
“Until attending the Clinic, I had no idea what the process was for people claiming asylum and the various processes that they must go through to claim asylum and avoid deportation. I now have a better understanding of the asylum process.”
“I gained valuable experience and an insight into the area of law, how it is put into practice and how to approach and advise clients in interviews.”
“I enjoyed seeing firsthand what the Refugee Council was all about. My mentor was very interactive and friendly which made the experience enjoyable.”
Birmingham TUC Centre for the Unemployed (BTUCCU)
This not-for-profit organisation is an advice and resource centre for unemployed and low-waged people in Birmingham. In addition to employment and careers advice, the Centre provides welfare benefits and employment advice and representation before the Employment Tribunals and 1st Tier Tribunals.
This placement provides an additional free legal advice service run by BVC student advocates who advise and represent clients before the Employment Tribunal under the supervision of BTUCCU staff and qualified barristers and/or solicitors.
The BTUCCU programme won first prize in the Attorney General Student Awards 2009 in the Best New Pro Bono Activity category.
Partner comments:
“The Centre is situated at the heart of one of the most deprived communities in Birmingham and the support we are now able to offer our clients, both through the current students who take on cases during their period of study and through the former students who have chosen to volunteer, is of tremendous value.”
Ian Nannestad, TUC Centre Manager
Student comments:
“It was really beneficial to interact with clients and appreciate the stages of a case before the Employment Tribunal. The supervision was very helpful and it was invaluable to have firsthand advocacy experience.”
“I was asked about this pro bono employment work in pupillage interviews and it also helped me to answer the problem questions, so I am really grateful for the experience and opportunity – thank you so much!”
Further information
We can also provide details of many other organisations recruiting students for a variety of pro bono work both national and international. Useful websites include:
www.yjb.gov.uk
www.lawsociety.org.uk
www.amicus-alj.org
www.ipsea.org.uk
www.victimsupport.org.uk
www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
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