Birmingham

Pro bono is an increasingly important part of legal education and practice that is both challenging and rewarding. At The University of Law we have been committed to providing a pro bono service since 2001. Here are details of some of the schemes we run in Birmingham.

Family Advice Midlands (‘FAM’)

Run in conjunction with local law firm, Knights, this initiative is a free advice service for clients with family law matters. You will gain experience in interviewing clients to obtain initial information in respect of the matter and drafting attendance notes. You will also observe a volunteer lawyer providing legal advice at one of our fortnightly FAM Advice Clinics.

Small Business Advice Line (‘SBAL’)

This is a national initiative, which is available to students studying in Birmingham. This is a virtual Legal Advice Clinic for Small Businesses, which provides a free 30-minute advice appointment with a Commercial Solicitor. You will be expected to contact the client in advance of the advice appointment to obtain instructions on their matter and prepare a comprehensive attendance note, which will be shared with the advising solicitor.

Wills, Trusts and Estate Disputes Advice Line (‘WTED’)

This is a national initiative, which is available to students studying in Birmingham. Similar to SBAL but this opportunity will give you experience of private client related matters.

Streetlaw

Working with international law firm Eversheds Sutherland LLP, the Streetlaw programme raises legal awareness in the community and is designed with GDL and LLB students in mind.

You could get involved by doing a talk to help people who need to understand how the law affects them such as people in schools or local charities and organisations.

Schools Consent Project

This charity sends lawyers and law students into schools to deliver hour-long workshops on the legal definition of sexual consent and key sexual offences. The Charity aims to normalise conversations about consent in order to challenge sexually harmful attitudes amongst young people, as well as empowering students to give, withdraw or withhold their consent, and to call out non-consensual sexual activity in others. Once trained, you will be given the opportunity to deliver their workshops in classrooms.

Real Estate Advice Line ('REAL')

A bespoke free legal advice service across England and Wales. We offer advice to real clients with their property enquiries with the involvement of both our own property lawyers and volunteer lawyers. This is a virtual Legal Advice Clinic for property owners , which provides a free 30-minute advice appointment with a Property Lawyer . You will be expected to contact the client in advance of the advice appointment to obtain instructions on their matter and prepare a comprehensive attendance note, which will be shared with the advising solicitor and you will be given feedback. This opportunity is opened to Birmingham and Guildford students with the intention of the clinic being available nationally in the near future.

External Projects

Whilst a student at the Birmingham Campus you can volunteer with a number of local charites and organisations. Amicus, Bradical and the Solihull Schools Appeals Service to name just a few.