UEL Legal Advice Centre
We provide a free service of legal advice to the community.
The service is provided by students of the University supervised by experienced practising solicitors.
We aim to assist in relation to any legal problem.
Our Services
The UEL Legal Advice Centre is open for appointments.
Please
We aim to respond to you within 3 working days.
We are open currently from Monday to Thursday for appointments and additionally for walk-ins on Wednesday between 12-2pm.
We offer a form filling service for walk-ins on Tuesdays from May between 10.30am - 1.30pm and at all other times by appointment.
Our Partners
Romford Autism Hub Legal Advice Clinic
Our Legal Advice Centre works in partnership with the Sycamore Trust UK to provide free legal advice to those affected with autism at our Romford Autism Hub Legal Advice Clinic.
The Sycamore Trust U.K. is a charity that provides services to support clients and their families that are affected by Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ADS) and /or learning difficulties. One of the adult services that the Sycamore Trust UK offers is the Romford Autism Hub. The Autism Hub provides the accessibility of services to adults with autism in order to foster a supportive environment and assist with effective coping strategies.
We provide free legal advice to the Sycamore Trust UK clients on matters such as housing, family, employment, contract/consumer, welfare benefits (in particular DLA under 16 and PIP), and legal information on SEN matters.
The Renewal Programme (Immigration Project)
Our students provide regular support and assistance at the Newham Renewal Programme, under the supervision of immigration expert Sylwia Szymczyk. They take instructions, do legal research, translate where able and assist in any way needed during meetings with clients.
Stephen Timms MP
The LAC is referred clients from the local area and from our local politicians. We have a direct relationship with Stephen Timms MP's office, which includes our students taking part in internships provided by him, allowing them to assist at constituency surgeries.
Student Events
On Campus Examples - We have a state-of-the-art Court Room on campus, where we hold Practical Skills based modules as well as events and mooting competitions.
Off Campus examples
Public Legal Education Project
Information leaflets
As part of our commitment to providing free legal information to the local community, our student volunteers at the Legal Advice Centre draft information leaflets on hot topics for the benefit of our clients. The aim of these leaflets is to provide an overview of the law in a simplistic way. They are not intended to represent legal advice.
Volunteering
- How students can volunteer
- Benefits of volunteering
- External voluntary opportunities
Staff
Director and supervisors
The Director and Supervisors are responsible for matters such as training, development and administration. The Legal Advice Centre also has an Advisory Group consisting of members of the Royal Docks School of Business & Law and partner organisations. The Law Clinic is also supported by local solicitors who provide their services on a pro bono basis.
Saadiya Ahmad: Director
Lorna Macfarlane, Lisa Spirakes and Heidi Appleby: Supervising Solicitors
Nurun Choudhury: LAC Trainee Solicitor
Partners and sponsors
We would like to thank The Renewal Programme (Newham) Immigration Project for agreeing to have students to shadow their services, we look forward to working in Partnership.
We are happy to consider requests from individual lawyers, law firms, chambers or legal advice organisations to become partners of the University of East London Legal Advice Centre.
We are pleased to have the following partner organisations:
Our Policies
What does the Legal Advice Centre do?
We aim to advise clients on their legal position and the options available to them to resolve their legal problems. As an advice service, we do not undertake any representation of clients' cases in courts or tribunals, or conduct any litigation. We do, however, act as a referral agency to other organisations that may take on clients' cases without charge.
The Legal Advice Centre can provide clients with written legal advice, and where resources permit, we can liaise with third parties on behalf of our clients.
Our services are free. We give priority to those cases which do not qualify for legal aid or where clients cannot afford a solicitor. We may also take on cases if we feel that there is no other assistance available from other agencies.
The Legal Advice Centre operates a weekly drop-in session during term time only. All enquiries are considered individually to ensure that they meet the criteria of the Legal Advice Centre.
Interview stage and after
What happens at the interview?
The first stage is an interview. Clients will not receive any legal advice at this time. Clients will be interviewed by two Student Advisers, who will also set out our policies and client care information.
All communications will be in the strictest confidence, and client files are securely stored in line with Data Protection requirements.
What happens after the interview?
After the interview, our Student Advisers and a Supervisor will review the case and in the event that we can advise on the matter, our Student Advisers will research the case and draft an advice letter setting out the possible options available. Each letter is checked for accuracy by the Director and Supervising Solicitor.
Once the matter has been closed, our Student Advisers will send a final letter with details about the closure and storage of the client's file.
All Student Advisers undertake extensive training provided by the Legal Advice Centre staff and partner organisations.
Our limitations
The Legal Advice Centre reserves the right not to give advice in any particular case. In the event of the Legal Advice Centre being unable to help, we will offer to refer your enquiries to other agencies or organisations which may be able to assist.
As an advice service, we are only able to offer written advice to our clients. We do not undertake any representation of clients' cases in courts or tribunals.
The Legal Advice Centre will not be able to assist you in any way where your dispute is with the Royal Docks School of Business and Law, the University of East London, and/ or its members of staff. This is to avoid any potential conflict of interests.
If your matter is urgent and you require immediate legal advice, you should contact a solicitor or other agencies that may be able to provide emergency advice and/or assistance.
Our achievements
Coming soon.
Contact us
1 Salway Pl, London E15 1NF
Please call us on +44 (0) 7871 734 380 or email legaladvicecentre@uel.ac.uk
We are open during term time only.
