Commercial Clinic
Commercial Clinic is designed for SMEs and entrepreneurial start-ups. The remit of the legal advice will be: Terms and conditions of business and trading, and advising on business entities. Students will be taking initial instructions, drafting attendance notes and letters of advice and basic documentation under supervision of a solicitor employed by the University.
Appointments and advice are online. Clients will need a reliable internet connection and a phone/tablet/computer to access an online meeting. A microphone is essential, but a video camera is not. Please note that we are not able to take on new cases at present.
Sarah Askey, Supervising Solicitor
Supported by Rebecca Dennis-Benn, Operations Coordinator (Legal Advice Clinic)
Our Commercial Clinic can advise clients in relation to their business entities, directors duties, terms and conditions of business and in some cases can advise on contracts for the provision of goods and/or services. This commercial legal work experience provides an introduction to the work commonly done by general commercial lawyers at man 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 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 appointment only-appointments can be in person at our Keele in Town building in Newcastle-under-Lyme or remotely via MS Teams.
Contact us here.
Student Volunteering – Keele Legal Advice Clinics
Keele Legal Advice Clinics are open to Level 5 and 6 students as an extra-curricular opportunity. 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.
Supervised by Sarah Askey, the Commercial Clinic offers experience advising businesses on:
- Business structures and directors’ duties
- Terms and conditions
- Contracts for goods and services
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 (Add Photo of desks here)
If you have any questions please contact Rebecca Dennis-Benn on legal-advice-clinic@keele.ac.uk
Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/keele-university-legal-advice-clinic-a168b140a
