The University of Bristol Law Clinic, Free Legal Advice and Support.
Example Case
Below is an example of how a case would be handled by the law clinic so you know what to expect when you contact us.
Step 1 – Contacting the Law Clinic
Every case begins with the client getting in touch with the law clinic, usually by phone or email.
When phoning the law clinic, you will be asked to leave a message on the answer machine with
contact details and information about your case, messages are checked every day.
Step 2 – Taking on the case
If we feel that the law clinic is capable of taking on your case, the case will be assigned to a
firm within the clinic and two members of that firm will contact you. This will probably be by
phone unless you wish to be contacted by email or post. During this conversation the two student
advisors will introduce themselves and arrange with you a convenient date for you to come to the university
and discuss your case. They will also send you some documents to sign before the case can be taken
on, this is to comply with our insurance policy.
Step 3 – Initial Interview
This is the opportunity for you to meet the student advisors in person and discuss the issues you
want resolved. The interview should only take about half an hour of your time and can be as informal
as you would like. You will be asked to bring along any documents that you think are relevant (for
example in employment cases it is useful to have a copy of your contract of employment). This is so
that we can make a photocopy and will be able to return them straight back to you.
Step 4 – Research
The student advisors will spend the next few weeks researching the points of law you have brought up.
They will regularly contact you to to update you on their progress, and you may also contact them to ask
any extra questions. You will be able to contact them directly without having to go through any third parties.
In order to make sure the advice we give you is of the highest standard, all advice is thoroughly checked by
the university academics before you receive it.
Points to note
- As student advisors we can only take a case so far. We mainly provide legal advice and support, but can also help take a case up to tribunal level.
- If we cannot take on your case we will help refer you to an organisation which can.
- The amount of advice we provide you with is entirely under your control. There is no obligation to continue your case if you decide at any point not to pursue it.
- All information you give to the Law Clinic is completely confidential.