Teesside University law students are assisting vulnerable individuals in a North East family court.
- They provide both emotional support and procedural guidance to those without legal representation.
- This initiative is unique in the North of England and one of only two in the nation.
- The Law Clinic offers free legal services, having been permitted to aid unrepresented individuals in person.
- Students are gaining invaluable real-world experience, enhancing their future legal careers.
Teesside University law students are stepping up to support vulnerable individuals who lack access to legal advice in a family court setting in the North East. The Middlesbrough Family Court is now hosting these students who provide both emotional support and procedural guidance to people who are self-representing in private law family cases. This initiative stands out as it is one of only two such schemes across the entire country and the only one of its kind in the North of England.
Having received special permission from the court, Teesside University’s Law Clinic is now able to attend and work directly with unrepresented individuals. The Law Clinic, renowned for its free community legal service in fields such as employment law, civil disputes, and landlord-tenant issues, is extending its support to those navigating the complexities of family law. Final year LLB students, who are backed by trained legal professionals from the Law Clinic, are participating in this effort.
The students are present at the Middlesbrough Family Court during first hearing dispute resolution hearings, held on Tuesdays. During these sessions, they offer procedural advice, aiding those involved by elucidating the court process and the subsequent stages. Besides this practical advice, they also provide much-needed emotional support to the individuals undergoing potentially stressful legal proceedings.
Emma Harbron, a senior lecturer in legal practice at Teesside University, has been instrumental in pioneering this scheme. She states, “The Law Clinic is delighted to be able to offer this service at Middlesbrough Family Court. As well as helping those members of the public who are struggling to access justice, this initiative will be invaluable for our students, offering them an opportunity to gain real-world experience of court proceedings, interact with other legal professionals and deal with clients. All of these will be vital skills in their future careers.”
Local family court judge, Judge Harvey Murray, also expressed support for the programme, stating, “This is an exciting new service aimed at providing those who are attending before our family court with the support and assistance they might need. This collaboration between the university and the court centre will hopefully give members of our community more confidence when attending what could be an emotionally demanding hearing.”
This initiative not only assists vulnerable individuals but also equips future legal professionals with essential skills.
