Press release: Solicitor General visits University of Law in Chester to mark National Pro Bono Week

Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP will be visiting the University of Law (ULaw) in Chester today (6 November) to meet law students and take part in a Streetlaw session with local school pupils.

His visit marks the start of National Pro Bono Week, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of the important work done by legal professionals and the voluntary sector to help people gain access to justice.

The Solicitor will visit the University of Law’s pro bono department at the Chester campus and will meet with students working with the National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) which provides a free, fast emergency injunction service to survivors of domestic violence.

As part of the programme students are given full training to interview the clients over the phone and then fill in the necessary forms online that would allow injunctions to be issued. The work often leads to them acting as Mackenzie friends which involves assisting and advising a litigant in person, in the preparation of their case and during the hearing.

The Streetlaw event will see school children learning about the legal issues related to filming at school and then posting the footage online via social media.

The Solicitor General, Robert Buckland, QC MP said:

“It’s fantastic to meet future lawyers offering advice through pro bono initiatives. Many start their pro bono work while they are students and continue that important commitment throughout their careers.

“Pro bono work provides a vital contribution to our society and helps legal professionals maintain strong connections to the community.

“The Streetlaw programme is helping to educate the next generation of lawyers, while providing participants with important knowledge on legal issues that relate to them.”

Carol Draycott, Dean of The University of Law(ULaw)’s Chester campus, said:

“At ULaw we are committed to providing our students with first-hand practical experience and through our pro bono programme we have been able to help a number of people who might otherwise not have easy access to legal advice.

“We are honoured that the Solicitor General has taken time to visit us during such an important week designed to promote and highlight the voluntary work done by legal professionals.”

Streetlaw is a national, public legal education project that is delivered by law students in universities across England and Wales. The students deliver interactive and engaging legal workshops that aim to educate community groups and school children about the law as it relates to them.