View all news

Law Clinic Welcome Night 2018

Photo credit: TJ See

The Law Clinic 2018-19 team TJ See

Press release issued: 15 November 2018

On Friday 26 October the University of Bristol Law Clinic annual Welcome Night was held in Priory Road Complex Lecture Theatre. The night aimed to introduce the new student committee, academic directors and administrative staff to new and returning Clinic members, as well as informing them of Clinic procedures and opportunities beyond the Clinic.

By Rebecca Slade, Student General Secretary of the University of Bristol Law Clinic

This year the Clinic has continued to grow, with a total of 218 members; 67 places were awarded to new members, with the remainder made up of returners and Clinical Legal Studies students.

Growing numbers have been necessary year on year, highlighting the demand for our services within the community. Saffron Lim, our student director, kickstarted this years’ Welcome Night with a brief introduction and overview of the Clinic. It was the perfect opportunity for new and returning members to gain further insight into our exciting Law Clinic aims and goals for this year.

Following this, John Peake, our director, gave some background on his experience in the Clinic so far as well as highlighting any exciting changes: with increasing numbers and a new training program for first year students, this year will be a huge success.

Committee members then took it in turns to run through fundamental aspects of the Clinic. This included an overview of how to use the handbook, especially focussing on how to carry out a case – both beneficial to new and returning members as this year we have an updated handbook! We also ran through our opportunities beyond the Clinic: Outreach and Community Law. We are very lucky to be able to offer our members such unique opportunities.

We then ran through our continued partnership with Osborne Clarke, in particular our student advisor training days held at their Bristol offices. Once again, another unique opportunity for our members to not only be trained first hand on vital law clinic skills but also gain insight into the firm itself.

Finally, all members were required to read our policy documents and sign Membership Contracts, agreeing, amongst other vital components, to act in the most professionalised manner throughout the duration of their membership.

Our first social of the year at White Harte completed the night, giving all members the opportunity to meet their new colleagues, the new student committee as well as ask any questions. Following the event everyone was truly prepared and excited to get going with what we know will be another truly incredible year of more cases, more experiences and great deal more development!

Further information

The Law Clinic provides students with an opportunity to gain a real-life experience of law, offering free legal advice and support to members of the public under the supervision of Law School staff.

Edit this page