Our aim is to inspire the next generation of Welfare Laywers

Many of our volunteers, both for services and campaigning, are students. They not only learn about welfare law and how to work with clients, man our outreach stalls, shake a bucket to help with fundraising, but we make sure their voices are heard, by for example giving students the opportunity to publish their articles on our website.

If you are a student and interested in volunteering with us, either as a Service Volunteer or a Campaign or Fundraising volunteer, please find out more here:

Click here to read more about our volunteer work.

Legal Advocacy Support Project

We are also currently offering Manchester Metropolitan University and The University of Manchester students the opportunity to work more intensively with us. The Legal Advocacy Support Project (LASP) provides a high quality legal advocacy service. By recruiting law students, a far greater number of clients are able to access the service than could be achieved by using the same number of staff resources. Law students receive specialised training on a single legal matter, so that they can provide detailed case preparation and represent at appeal hearings for clients with ESA Work Capability Assessment appeals.

How to get involved…

This project is run in conjunction with the Manchester Metropolitan University Law School’s Pro Bono scheme and The University of Manchester School of Law and Legal Advice Centre.

Being part of the Pro Bono Network at MMU’s Manchester Law School is your opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills to real legal situations, to gain valuable experience and to make a real difference to yourself and others. To apply, you can request an application form by emailing probono@mmu.ac.uk.

To apply to the LASP project through the The University of Manchester School of Law and Legal Advice Centre write to Chloe McEvoy, the Legal Advice Centre Administrative Manager, chloe.mcevoy-4@manchester.ac.uk.

Legal Academic Services Board

We are currently working in partnership with the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, BPP Law School and University of Law. These universities meet on the Legal Academic Services Board (LASB). The vision is to promote and inspire the next generation of social welfare lawyers and to provide law students an insight into the profession via schemes such as the Legal Advocacy Support Project (LASP).

A large proportion of our volunteers is made up of students from these universities. They express an interest in working as a volunteer in a law centre to obtain related work experience and to put something back into their local community. Our volunteers may not initially be able to undertake advice work but will be involved in related administrative and reception duties, and in assisting the caseworkers

pro-bono-lasp_2017_first_cohort

Emma Goodwin, Pro Bono Director at Manchester Law School (left) and Giles Elliott (second from right), GMLC supervising caseworker, with two of the four LASP students, Samantha Mayer and Ciara Bartlam, from the 2016 to 2017 intake.

LASP 2017 students

The 2017 to 2018 intake at their induction session.