Second year LLB student, Alis Ugur let us know a bit more about the project, what it meant to her and the team and how it has helped develop their knowledge and skills in this area.
Can you tell us more about the presentation and project as a whole?
The project was designed to provide information on legal issues our audience, the BANES Dementia Support, might encounter in their work. The presentation itself covered a wide range of topics, from a general overview of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to more specific subjects, such as deprivation of liberty safeguards. As our presentation was oriented around a particular audience, we aimed at every step to connect the legal information with various scenarios that they may face in their profession.
How long have you been working on this project, and why did you decide to get involved in the first place?
We worked on this project for around a month. Throughout my time in the Law Clinic, I have gained a better understanding of how a lack of access to legal information can have detrimental effects on people’s lives. Therefore, I am always interested in being a part of any project that would enable me to guide others in better understanding their rights and duties.
How do you feel working on this project has helped develop your skills both academically and in terms of your career planning/progression?
This project helped me develop a number of transferable skills that I can utilise in every aspect of my life. Most importantly, I got the opportunity to work in a great team, improve my legal research abilities, learn how to communicate in different professional contexts. In regards to my career planning/progression, this project helped me to not only gain a better understanding of medical law but also assess my strengths and weaknesses in skills that I would require in any profession.
Do you have any advice for students and prospective students on why they should join the Law Clinic?
The Law Clinic provides a truly unique experience. It is an excellent opportunity for students to apply what they learn in their units in actual cases. It also helps them develop their communication skills in a variety of different circumstances, whether it is meeting with a client or talking to legal professionals. Additionally, they would be able to develop several transferable skills, such as research and working in a team, which could benefit them in any profession they choose to pursue.
Lecturer in Law and Solicitor at the Law Clinic, Sumayyah Malna said:
"We were honoured to have been asked to provide training to Bath and North East Somerset's dementia support workers on the relevant mental capacity law that impacts dementia support service users.
Alis, Isabelle, and Thanchanok pulled together an informative and engaging presentation, really applying their knowledge of the law to particular circumstances that may exist for dementia patients.
Feedback from the support workers has been fantastic, and they have indicated they may come back to us to ask for more specific training and information in certain areas.
Endeavours such as these really demonstrate how the Law Clinic can help support local communities with legal support, over and above the specific case work that is also carried out."