Family Legal Advice Clinic
Keele Family Law Advice Clinic is a pro bono service, which is part of Keele University Law School. We offer free, independent family law legal advice to members of the public. This includes advice in respect of: relationship breakdown, separation and divorce; children's private law arrangements; grandparents, stepparents and Special Guardians, as well as local authority children's services' involvement. Students will take initial instructions, draft attendance notes and letters of advice, as well as support with basic documentation and signpost clients appropriately, under the supervision of a solicitor employed by the University.
Please note that the clinic does not undertake casework or represent clients at court/within proceedings. We can signpost you to other legal service providers who may be able to do so.
Supported by Rebecca Dennis-Benn, Operations Coordinator (Legal Advice Clinic)
Free Family Law Advice Clinic
We provide free, independent family law advice to members of the public. Our service covers:
- Relationship breakdown, separation and divorce
- Child arrangements (private law)
- Advice for grandparents, stepparents and Special Guardians
- Local authority (children’s services) involvement
Please note:
- We cannot assist with urgent matters
- We do not provide ongoing casework or court representation
- We can signpost you to other organisations for further support
Further Information and Support
- OnlyMums & OnlyDads – Support for separating families
onlydads.org.uk | www.onlymums.org - Resolution – Free guides, videos and resources
resolution.org.uk - “101 Questions Answered About Separating with Children”
A practical self-help book for parents (£ approx. £22) - Cafcass – Advice on children's welfare in family proceedings
- Family Lives – Confidential advice line: 0808 800 2222
familylives.org.uk - Family Rights Group – Support for families involved with social services
frg.org.uk - SupportLine – Emotional support helpline: 01708 765200
supportline.org.uk
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.
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 will provide clients with legal advice, both in meetings and in a follow-up letter of advice.
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 Michele Brown, the Family Law Advice Clinic offers experience advising individuals on:
- Relationship breakdown, separation and divorce
- Children's private law arrangements
- Grandparents, stepparents and Special Guardians
- Local authority children's services' involvement
Students work under solicitor supervision, taking client instructions, drafting notes and advice, legal research and signposting.
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
Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/keele-university-legal-advice-clinic-a168b140a
