Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP will visit the University of Kent’s Law Clinic today to see the pro bono work happening there.
While there, the Solicitor General will also take part in a ‘hot seat’ Question and Answer session. The students will have the opportunity to ask questions about pro bono work and Public Legal Education.
The Solicitor General will also tour the new £5 million Kent Law Clinic as part of his visit and meet staff and solicitors from the local community who volunteer there. The Law Clinic takes on pro bono cases for individuals and community organisations who are unable to afford other legal services.
The Solicitor General said:
Pro bono work often starts at universities and colleges, where students gain first-hand experience of providing legal advice and help to those in need.
The advice these students give will help make a real difference to people’s lives as well as to the communities in which they live.
They are the next generation of lawyers, and the skills they gain now will put them in good stead in their future professional careers.
The students gain practical experience of the law in the clinic, and are involved in all aspects of casework. They undertake such tasks as interviewing clients, carrying out legal research, drafting statements of cases, negotiating and appearing as advocates before the County Court and other forums.
Professor John Fitzpatrick, Kent Law Clinic director said:
We are delighted that the Solicitor General is to visit the Kent Law Clinic, and warmly welcome his support for pro bono legal projects in universities.
Working in law clinics to provide a free legal service to those who need, but cannot to pay for access to the law offers students not only a new way of learning the law itself and very useful vocational skills, but also a new perspective on law and society.
We can only make a small contribution of course, but we hope a rich one to those clients and students who are involved.
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