PRO BONO
The Clinic is a joint venture between UEA Law students and staff, members of the local legal profession, and external charities and organisations. The Clinic's partnerships with leading charities such as Norfolk Community Law Service and Citizens Advice enable them to offer free legal advice and representation to the Norwich community, boosting students’ employability while meeting significant local needs.
NCLS
NCLS takes 50 students each year to assist in different areas of law, including debt and welfare services, domestic abuse, housing, employment, immigration, family court support service and private law child contact cases. NCLS student volunteers will have hands-on experience in supporting challenging cases through assisting solicitors, representing clients at benefit tribunals, shadowing, fact-finding, and triaging clients. This is great practice for a legal career. Work for NCLS takes place at the UEA Law Clinic and at NCLS’ premises in central Norwich… and of course at courts and tribunals across the county.
CITIZENS ADVICE DIGITAL HUB
Many people will know about Citizens Advice. They offer advice and information to help people with problems with debt, money, benefits, housing, employment issues, immigration, health, family, education and consumer issues. They offer free legal information and advice throughout the UK – including at UEA Law Clinic. In 2019, Citizens Advice Norfolk set up a digital hub at UEA. Staffed by students, the hub answers questions from members of the public seeking legal information and guidance through the Citizens Advice website. The hub has been so successful that in 2020, it will be expanding to offer telephone advice through the National CAB Advice Line as well face-to-face help to the public.
STREET LAW
Street Law volunteers deliver a wide range of awareness-raising sessions on legal issues in local schools and community groups, and at University Open Days and ‘Law Taster’ events’ on campus. Street Law offers students the chance to develop their legal learning and their team-working and communication skills by introducing legal issues to a wider audience.
GETTING INVOLED
As a UEA Law Student, or a student interested in a legal career, you have access to becoming part of UEA’s award-winning Law Clinic. The Clinic enables you to volunteer in a wide range of pro bono (volunteer) activities provided by our partnerships. The work of students within the Law Clinic has gained national recognition and has been awarded ‘Best Pro Bono Activities’ at the prestigious LawCareers.Net Student Law Society Awards, in 2016, 2018 and 2019.
All students who want to join UEA law clinic can do so, subject to safeguarding requirements in some roles. Access to some teams is by selection only, and we encourage students to develop their roles and expertise across the years of their degree.