Pro bono - York
At York we are driven by the need to give students some practical real life experience, enhance their legal education and make them aware of the contribution that lawyers can make to those who are socially, economically or politically disadvantaged. Pro bono activity at the College is run by the Centre for Pro Bono Services and Clinical Education (the Centre). We aim to conform to the appropriate professional standards. All work undertaken is supervised by the Pro Bono Co-ordinator who is a solicitor with a current practicing certificate. The Centre runs a number of activities:
Streetlaw
Legal Advice Clinics (LACs)
Asylum Law Clinic - Leeds
HARP and Leeds duty solicitor scheme
Police station scheme
Letter Writing Service (LWS)
Your day in court
Community partnership/legal literacy
Streetlaw
Streetlaw is a legal literacy scheme aimed at raising awareness of legal rights and responsibilities within the community. Students are supported by the staff in the Centre and work with community groups to identify legal concerns. The students then research the relevant material and present their findings to the partner groups in a user-friendly form. Through discussion, role-play and other inter-active methods the College students and the community group members learn about the law. Our clients include prisons, Doncaster Womens Centre, schools and residents groups.
Students work in teams of 4/5 to produce interactive workshops and presentations on legal topics. Skills acquired include legal research, client care, drafting, file management, team work and presentation/communication techniques.
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Legal Advice Clinics (LACs)
The LACs offer individuals the opportunity to receive legal advice in the form of a letter. We work in partnership with external agencies offering services to people from diverse backgrounds.
Working in pairs you will interview the client, identify the issues, research the law and draft a letter of advice. All work is supervised.
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Asylum Law Clinic - Leeds
Working with the Refugee Council, the College operates a weekly information clinic at their office in Leeds. This takes place each Wednesday afternoon. Students are placed on a rota. They will normally be expected to take part in a minimum of 1 session each. After the session the students prepare the file, summarise the case and draft letters to the client.
The Refugee Council offers advice and assistance to asylum seekers who have recently arrived in the UK as well as those who were dispersed to the area some time ago. The Refugee Council team provides support with housing, health, education and any other welfare issues. Students from the College attend each week to provide advice and assistance on a range of legal topics. All advice is in writing and supervised. In addition students interview asylum seekers to find out if there are any outstanding elements of their claims which have not been brought to the attention of the authorities. In some circumstances these can result in a referral to local specialist services.
Under close supervision, students interview the client, prepare the file and discuss with the Supervising Solicitor whether further action can be taken.
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HARP and Leeds duty solicitor scheme
Working in partnership with the Housing Advice Resource Project in York and solicitors in Leeds, the students shadow advocates who are on the Duty Possession schemes at York and Leeds County Courts. The schemes ensure that tenants and home-owners facing possession proceedings receive free advice and representation.
The students shadow the advocates at court, observing them, taking instructions, advising and representing in court. In some circumstances the students may have the opportunity to attend the clients to take instructions.
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Police station scheme
Sean Hutton, Senior Lecturer, participates in the duty solicitor scheme in Harrogate and allows the students to shadow him at the police station and court. The scheme gives students the opportunity to observe the work of an experienced criminal practitioner.
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Letter Writing Service (LWS)
This is an initiative to provide individuals with legal advice in the form of a letter. Clients make contact with us by phone or e-mail.
Working in pairs you will identify the issues, research the law and draft a letter of advice. All work is supervised.
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Your day in court
Working in partnership with the international law firm, Eversheds, local colleges and youth organistions the students undertake a challenge in the Crown Court. The schemes enable students to participate with individuals from the local community and trainee solicitors from Eversheds. The challenge takes place in a local court with a Judge. It is an enjoyable and worthwhile experience, particularly for those who wish to become advocates in the criminal courts.
The students work with the participants taking the roles of prosecutors, defence advocates and witnesses. The storyline is devised by Eversheds and there is some introductory training for the participants prior to the event.
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