School of Law
Working in Essex Law Clinic
Gain the tools for clinical success
Essex Law Clinic gives you the chance to work alongside practising lawyers to advise real clients. You'll develop the important legal skills learnt during your course.
The Law Clinic offers you the opportunity to integrate theory with practical experience and draw together different strands of your studies. It prepares you to deal with the cutting edge of legal practice. This means not only individual cases but also working on finding solutions to current problems such as how information technology can be used to improve access to justice.
Training
You'll receive thorough training before taking part. Working with us enhances your employability and future job applications by allowing you to develop a wide range of skills, experience and knowledge, including:
- client interviewing, case recording, drafting, client care, team working, and practical legal research
- communicating complex issues to clients in an accessible manner develops your communication skills
- learn about business development by exploring unmet legal need in the locality and working out strategies for how the Law Clinic can better meet that need
- develop your understanding of the legal advice sector by working with a number of different organisations
The clinic is occasionally involved in advocacy work before the First-tier Social Security and Child Support Tribunal either through written or oral submissions. This gives you the opportunity to draft a written submission or assist an oral submission.
Miscarriage of Justice Project
The Essex Law Clinic also runs a Miscarriage of Justice Project. This investigates claims of factual innocence by alleged victims of wrongful convictions after the client has exhausted all avenues of appeal. Student caseworkers independently research the complex factual, legal and scientific background to the case. In order to advance the client’s case, you will become aware of the latest legal, criminological and forensic developments.
The project develops your research techniques; analytical skills and creative thinking; communication and presentation skills; management and organisational skills; advocacy; understanding of principles of client care; and drafting. You may have the opportunity to work on this project as an extracurricular activity alongside your degree course.
Clinical work as part of your degree
All students are encouraged to have some clinical experience whilst studying in the School of Law. Some students work at the Law Clinic as an extracurricular activity; others do so as part of the module LW250 Legal Advice Casework.
Assessment for the accredited work is by portfolio where you reflect on the advice you have given and also work on a project of any aspect of the clinical work which interests you. All clinical work is supported by activities that improve your commercial awareness, advocacy and networking skills.
