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University of Bristol Law Clinic |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are our fees? The Law Clinic is a free service - we do not charge our clients for the advice we give. However if a case is taken to court / tribunal there may be some administrative costs imposed by the court / tribunal and you will be normally be expected to bear these. Are we qualified lawyers? Cases are managed by law students at the University of Bristol who are NOT qualified lawyers. However students often consult University tutors and all advice is checked by the Director of the Law Clinic who is a qualified lawyer. How do I know if I'm eligible for help? All members of the public may be eligible for support from the Law Clinic. We DO NOT means test potential clients. Decisions are made on a case by case basis. Please call our 24hr answerphone service or E-mail us with details of the case and we will let you know if we can help. How is the Law Clinic Run? An Executive Committee of law students run the Law Clinic under the direction of Professor Gerard McMeel, a member of the School of Law academic staff and a practising Barrister. Approximately 130 law students staff the Law Clinic. Student training in client interview methods and procedure is compulsory and further training sessions are offered to all members. Will my case be treated confidentially? All interviews, phone calls and correspondence between the Law Clinic and its clients are kept strictly confidential. Members sign a confidentiality undertaking when joining the Law Clinic. How will my case be managed? Once you have got in touch with the Law Clinic (and we have decided to take your case) you will be assigned two or more Student Advisors. At least one student will be an experienced member of the Law Clinic's team. The students will contact you to arrange a meeting to discuss the relevant facts of your case. The students will then research the legal issues surrounding the case. Before advice is given it will be checked by an appropriate lawyer. A letter detailing the advice in a clear and understandable manner will then be sent to you. You will have the opportunity to discuss the advice with the Law Clinic and to ask any questions you have. If necessary, the Law Clinic will contact any relevant parties / bodies on your behalf. Any further action will only take place with your full consent. What if we cannot help? If the Law Clinic is unable to deal with your case for any reason, we will refer you to an appropriate agency or a reasonably priced solicitor. |
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‘...a kind of safety net, catching anything that falls through the holes in the legal system.’ |
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Tel: 0117 9545340 |
