Students
Welcome to the UEL Law Centre. The Centre itself has been initiated to offer free legal advice to local residents, here in east London. This is an invaluable opportunity for students to become involved in the local community and assist those members of the public who might otherwise be denied legal advice.
The requirements of modern legal education are that law graduates as well as attaining academic knowledge of law, equally acquire practical legal skills. The best way to do this is through participating in pro bono and voluntary work. The Centre gives students the unique opportunity to put their legal knowledge to practical use, whilst at the same time developing an entire new set of practical skills. These will not only benefit students in their future legal careers but will also aid their legal studies.
The Centre also uses innovative teaching methods in conveying the necessary skill sets to students. Online training tutorials are made available online. Students will be guided through the fundamental skills involved in carrying out pro bono advisory work and these are used in conjunction with one on one tutorials and a skills manual for student development to provide advice of the highest quality.
What is pro bono work?
The term pro bono comes from the Latin, ‘pro bono publico’, meaning ‘for the public good’. The UEL Law Centre aims to offer free legal advice to members of the local community who would otherwise be disadvantaged without such legal advice.
Student’s involvement in the centre provides a chance for students to gain experience in the fields that they are studying.
Who can volunteer?
All UEL students studying law and criminology are eligible to apply to join the pro bono programme. The benefits of undertaking pro bono work can be both personal and professional. Personally you will gain an opportunity to put your legal knowledge to practical use. You will develop and enhance these skills, which will also enable to gain a greater appreciation of law which will further your academic studies.
Students will be given the opportunity to communicate with clients, develop their ability to recognise legal issues, carrying out legal research and explaining the practical implications of the law to their client’s case.
