Male client receiving legal advice from two female law students, they are accompanied by a solicitor in a bright office.

Student opportunities

at our Legal Advice Clinic

Increasingly, people are struggling to get legal assistance because of legal aid cuts, court closures and expensive court fees. Many agencies have had budget cuts which makes the situation worse. 

There are a number of areas in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent where families and communities face multiple issues such as unemployment, poor housing and poor quality of life. With these needs comes the need for legal advice.

This is where SULAC comes in.

Thank you very much for the help you and your students do for the people in need

Mrs C

SULAC client

What is SULAC?

Staffordshire University Legal Advice Clinic (SULAC) was launched in October 2018. SULAC is run as a 30-credit module in the final year of the Law LLB and provides free legal advice to the general public and certain sectors of the community across Staffordshire.

Students are supervised by qualified solicitors and academics. The service is limited to a letter of advice on a range of issues including housing, family, consumer and employment law.

The SULAC module allows the University to help our local community whilst providing the students with “real world” experience. SULAC’s service is a direct response to the difficulties faced by the most vulnerable in our society and to the public sector. 

To learn more about the work of Staffordshire University Legal Advice Clinic, you can read our full report (PDF 7Mb).

Support in our community

Between April 2020 and August 2021, SULAC supported over 250 clients in a variety of legal matters including Family, Consumer/General Contract, Housing, Employment, Debt and more.

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Expanding the clinic

Lockdown created a need for a new clinic. Domestic violence has been increasing year on year. As a result of COVID-19 those figures increased significantly. In light of this, SULAC, in partnership with Lewis Rodgers Solicitors, took a clinic once a month to Staffordshire Women’s Aid.

The clinic was operated remotely via Microsoft Teams. The women concerned would attend Women’s Aid so that these women could access the clinic in a safe and supported environment. This was particularly important during Covid as a lack of access to IT equipment and data was a major barrier to ensuring services remained accessible, particularly to the most vulnerable women. The Clinic was supported by trained volunteers from Staffordshire Women’s Aid,who accompany women at their appointment if required.

In light of the sensitive nature of the issues complained of, students shadowed the qualified solicitors who took instructions regarding non molestation injunctions, divorce, child arrangement orders. The clients were triaged for legal aid and follow up appointments with the clients were arranged. If the clients were not eligible for legal aid then the clinic students would sometimes prepare a letter of advice in the normal way.

Hands-on experience

Clinic gave me the hands-on experience I needed to see first-hand some of the tasks required daily by solicitors and how each case differs. The skills that are developed and improved during clinic are outstanding, especially confidence.

SULAC student

A game changer

Being a part of SULAC was a game changer in my degree, as it gave me the practical experience that I needed to understand how law works in employment. The skills gained through this experience will help me in any profession I choose to follow; interview skills, writing, communication are all crucial in any line of work. SULAC not only made me into a better student, but also made me into a better employee in my current position.

SULAC student

 

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021