Commercial Clinic
Keele Commercial Clinic is a pro bono service that is part of Keele University Law School and is designed for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurial start-ups. The clinic can advise on a range of issues including: commercial contracts and types of business structure. Students will take initial instructions, draft attendance notes, letters of advice and basic documentation under the supervision of a solicitor employed by the University.
Supported by Rebecca Dennis-Benn, Operations Coordinator (Legal Advice Clinic)
Our Commercial Clinic can advise clients on a range of issues including types of business structure, directors' duties and, commercial contracts. This commercial legal work experience provides an introduction to the work commonly done by general commercial lawyers at law firms and provides a valuable legal service to start ups and SMEs.
Unfortunately, our Commercial Clinic is unable to assist with Employment Law matters. If your matter does involve employment law you may find the below links helpful.
Legal advice for individuals | LawWorks
There are a number of law firms who offer fixed fee advice in employment matters and you may find it helpful to search here for someone in your geographic area who is able to assist. I would suggest your search ‘employment law’ queries. You may also find this link helpful - https://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/.
You may also find the ACAS website helpful with a number of areas of guidance and resolution processes available. Acas | Making working life better for everyone in Britain
All client meetings are pre-organised by appointment only. Appointments can be in person at our Keele in Town building in Newcastle-under-Lyme or remotely via MS Teams.
This is a pro-bono free legal advice service.
Contact us here.
Student Volunteering – Keele Legal Advice Clinics
Students can opt in to become a student advisor within their second and third year of study. Applications open once a year, with shortlisted students invited to an assessment centre/interview.
Students can choose to participate in a chosen area of Law and opt-in to support our Personal Injury Clinic alongside their chosen clinic.
Successful applicants attend training covering client interviewing, legal research using practitioner databases, and providing practical legal advice. Students may also draft legal documents and advise clients both in writing and in meetings.
This experience supports your professional development and can be recorded on your HEAR, and may count as Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) for the SQE.
By joining the Legal Advice Clinic, you will:
- Gain valuable practical legal experience
- Build client interviewing and communication skills
- Learn how to time record and use a case management software
- Enhance your CV and employability
- Work collaboratively in a professional legal setting
- Gain qualifying work experience (QWE) for SQE
- Recorded on your HEAR report
Supervised by Sarah Askey, the Commercial Clinic offers experience advising businesses on matters such as:
- Types of business structures
- Directors’ duties
- Commercial contracts
Students work under solicitor supervision, taking client instructions, drafting notes and advice, and preparing basic legal documents.
The clinic runs a weekly appointment sessions at Keele In Town, alongside pre-arranged meetings (online or in person).
Students should be available for around 4 hours per week.
Students also have their own dedicated space within the School of Law to work on any matters confidentially or to meet with clients via MS Teams if they wish to use it. To book this space please contact Rebecca.
Face-to-face client meetings predominantly take place on Wednesday afternoons at Keele in Town during term time. However, students may occasionally be asked to accommodate online client meetings outside of these times, depending on client needs and service requirements.
Following each client meeting, a letter of advice must be prepared and completed within two weeks of the meeting date.
Students are expected to dedicate an average of four hours per week to clinic work outside of scheduled activities. This is an average commitment, and some students may choose to spend additional time on clinic-related work. As client meetings do not take place every week, students should use weeks without client appointments to undertake activities such as legal research, drafting advice letters, case preparation, and other clinic-related tasks.
If you have any questions please contact Rebecca Dennis-Benn on legal-advice-clinic@keele.ac.uk
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