Pro bono – Birmingham
The best way to learn about the law is to put your skills into practice. And nowhere offers more opportunities to get involved than we do. During your course you’ll have the chance to hone your legal skills, gain hands-on experience and improve your career prospects through all kinds of curriculum related activities.
Pro Bono activity at Birmingham is led by Becky Parker, a qualified lawyer who maintains strong links with local lawyers and firms/chambers and a number of other service providers and not-for-profit organisations. All work undertaken is fully supervised by qualified practitioners and many projects are run in conjunction with external lawyers, so it is also a great opportunity to network.
Here are just some of the opportunities on offer at our centre:
Streetlaw programme
Legal advice centre (LAC)
Pro bono placements
Streetlaw programme
Pioneered by The College of Law in partnership with the Citizenship Foundation and top 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
Our partners say: “We really value working with The College of Law on their excellent Streetlaw programme. Legal literacy is one of Eversheds’ community investment activities and links our education element to our wider pro bono activity. Streetlaw can be tailored to make any age or community group aware of their rights and responsibilities with the emphasis shifted depending on the needs of the community members. We work in partnership with The College around the country to meet local needs and together enjoy a really successful and varied programme in Birmingham.”
Steven Butts, Eversheds’ Director of Corporate Responsibility
Our students say: “The [school] students enjoyed the interactive element of the presentation very much………my experience was a positive one and I found it very satisfying.”
GDL student 0708
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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 holds the LSC Quality Mark at General Help level and is supported by Wragge & Co and Shakespeare Putsman solicitors.
Our partners say: “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
Our students say: “[I most enjoyed] meeting the client, liaising with a supervisor and being able to take some responsibility and see what my future career will entail in practice.”
“[I most enjoyed] the interview. It felt very real and for the first time, I dealt with a member of the public rather than fellow students.”
“[I most enjoyed] the pressure of finishing a coherent letter that would assist a real client. The thought of our advice being of use is most satisfying.”
“There is nothing else on the LPC which is so true to life.”
LPC students 0708
Our clients say: “[The service] was very professional. I felt it was most helpful and direct. I was dealt with professionally and with courtesy and respect at all times.”
“I was very satisfied with the service – the service is 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 and BVC 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 in its 5th year has advised over 700 clients. We currently have 16 lawyers from 7 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.
Our students say: “A very useful service for the public and insight for students – it’s been excellent experience.”
“I enjoyed interviewing the clients and seeing how their issues were dealt with by the solicitors.”
“I enjoyed the opportunity to speak with clients and getting a view of their problem. It gave me the opportunity to be professional and try some of the client interviewing tactics we were taught in class.”
LPC students 0708
Our clients say: “My employers were trying to change my contract for the worse. I was advise to raise a grievance. I eventually won! – thanks.”
“Brilliant service, many thanks for your help!”
“Your service is excellent and provided me with a lot of assistance.”
Birmingham Employment Advice Clinic (BEAC)
The employment advice clinic is a new 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 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.
Our students say: “[I most enjoyed] being able to see how the concepts/issues etc I am learning on a day-to-day basis are applicable to real-life situations, it adds a deeper level of understanding – it was particularly helpful that the clients’ issues overlapped with topics covered in the employment elective.”
LPC student 0708
Our clients say:
“Clear, friendly, informative advice.”
“The advice given was extremely useful and enabled me to make a decision and to move forward.”
“Very helpful and understanding – 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 can 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 are often facing return to the same conditions they fled.
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 Social Security Tribunals and Employment Tribunals.
This placement provides an free legal advice service run by BVC student advocates who advise and represent clients before the Social Security and Child Support Appeals Tribunal and Employment Tribunal under the supervision of BTUCCU staff and qualified barristers and/or solicitors.
Our students say:
“The most beneficial part of taking part in the pro bono programme was that we had the opportunity to put what we have been learning into practice. It allowed us a more realistic insight into what a career in law involves and made us even more certain that we are doing something that we thoroughly enjoy and want to do as a career.”
“Being able to meet and have conferences with clients was an excellent opportunity for us to put our new skills to use.”
“It is a great opportunity to exercise the skills on the BVC in a challenging practical context.”
BVC students 0708
Our clients say:
“I would like to say that the service my son received was excellent and very professional throughout, we were kept up to date with information at all times….I understand this is a great learning opportunity for your students to gain experience, however people like my son also gain from the free help which….is very difficult to find in the circumstances my son was in, which was unemployed not receiving benefit so was therefore not entitled to legal aid and was not in a union….we would like to take this opportunity to thank them both for every minute they put into this case, it has been deeply appreciated, and words cannot fully express how very grateful we are.”
Youth Offending Service
This placement involves students in work with young people between 10 and 18 years as Appropriate Adults and Community Panel members. Working with Youth Offending Teams, students help to address and prevent offending by children and young people. As Appropriate Adults – students advise the young person (non-legal), observe that the interview is carried out properly and fairly and facilitate communication. As Panel Members – students sit in a quasi-judicial capacity, meeting as a panel with the young person, their family and, where appropriate, victim to: address the offence and consider prevention of re-offending; ensure the young offender takes responsibility for their behaviour, and increase their understanding of harm to the victim and how they can make amends.
This opportunity is offered to BVC students who can make at least a 1 year commitment to the service.
Our students say: “The Youth Offending Service has offered me a fantastic opportunity to be involved with a program that makes a difference. From my experiences, I have been able to tailor my duties as counsel when dealing with young people; this has certainly helped me in conference, dealing with witnesses, plea in mitigation, bail and other important areas of the Criminal Justice System and the BVC. I believe that the skills I have developed whilst being on this programme will aid me when I come to practice in the future.”
BVC student 0708
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