Student information
Keele Legal Advice Clinics are open for Level 5 & 6 students to volunteer on an extra-curricular basis. We open applications to the clinics once a year in around April time and if shortlisted students will be able to take part in an Assessment Centre. Successful students will then be invited to our training days where you will learn how to interview and advise clients, research the law using practitioner databases and give practical legal advice. You may be involved in drafting legal documents and court forms as well as advising clients in writing and in meetings.
This valuable legal work experience will be advantageous to your professional development. You can record your experience on HEAR (Higher Education Achievement Report) to showcase your volunteer work at university and use as your portfolio when you graduate. It may be suitable to be recorded as qualifying work experience (QWE) for qualification as a solicitor under the SQE.
We have a dedicated space for our Legal Advice Clinic students to work on matters and meet with clients. Clinic students can book this room by emailing legal-advice-clinic@keele.ac.uk.
Our students wellbeing is extremely important and a priority. We wish to support students through their academic journey but not add additional pressures. The staff in the clinic are always happy to help and support. However the university has a Welfare support team which you can access here.
If you have any queries or concerns please contact the team on legal-advice-clinic@keele.ac.uk.
Key dates
April – Applications for the next academic years clinics open
May – For those who have been shortlisted will be invited to an Assessment Centre Day
September – The students that were successful will be invited to 3 days training. This usually takes place during the university Welcome Week
Key dates for current clinic students
Please make a note of the dates below – Reminders and room updates will be sent via MS Teams.
Firm meeting | Date | Time | Room |
---|---|---|---|
October | Wednesday 30 October 2024 | 14:00pm-15:00pm | CBA1.099/100 |
November | Wednesday 27 November 2024 | 14:00pm-15:00pm | CBA1.099/100 |
December | Wednesday 18 December 2024 | 14:00pm-15:00pm | CBA1.099/100 |
January | Wednesday 29 January 2025 | 14:00pm-15:00pm | CBA1.099/100 |
February | Wednesday 26 February 2025 | 14:00pm-15:00pm | CBA1.099/100 |
March | Wednesday 26 March 2025 | 14:00pm-15:00pm | CBA1.099/100 |
April | Wednesday 30 April 2025 | 14:00pm-15:00pm | CBA1.099/100 |
May | Wednesday 28 May 2025 | 14:00pm-15:00pm | CBA1.099/100 |
Student feedback
This feedback was provided anonymously from our 23/24 clinic students on 24 April 2024 via padlet:
- "My experience from the clinic has been irreplaceable. Even with the training it has already shown me the importance of experience and having two clients within the clinic has been beneficial for expanding my range of work. Even the experience of the assessment day".
- "I enjoyed the training and opportunity to work with clients. It has been a good opportunity to gain experience for assessment centres/vacation schemes".
- "Professionally I feel as though my grasp on the significance of the work had developed. From being somewhat overwhelmed with copious amounts of information during the original training session, to feeling at ease balancing multiple taks and important factors. I believe I have seen great professional development. I feel comfortable leading client interviews and actually enjoy writing letters to the clients. Getting feedback from not only the leading solicitors but the clients has been heartwarming! I have really enjoyed the experience – Thank you all!"
- "My time at the clinic allowed me to grow in confidence, both in my legal knowledge and my communication skills. I have had the opportunity to ask questions and better my understanding. My only regret is not having done it in second year too. The clinic gave me a topic to talk about at the legal dining which landed me work experience. Overall, the clinic has been a positive experience. Although I haven’t had to draft many letters, I have had the opportunity to learn how to start".
- "The Legal Advice Clinic really helped me develop my skills and knowledge. I met some amazing people. That really took me out of my shell and I was learning along the way. I have learnt skills that are going to benefit me when I move on to my future career and that I will continue to use throughout my career. I have also experienced an area of law that I didn’t think id be interested in. But, I have come to discover that I quite like it!"
- "Practical and helpful! I have learnt quite a lot in clinic and dealing with real life situations has really boosted my confidence for a career as a solicitor".
"I found my time with the Divorce Clinic to be very useful, the opportunity to meet clients and give legal advice was really important for me to understand my strengths and weaknesses as a law student and aspiring lawyer. I also found it very rewarding to be able to support clients with their legal issues, particularly matters relating to divorce, by providing them with free legal advice. I would also say the firm meetings and initial training back in September, enabled me to develop skills that I have taken into other parts of my life such as other volunteering and successfully applying for a summer internship."
"I would like to thank you for this amazing opportunity as the LAC enabled me to gain invaluable practical experience which will be beneficial in my professional legal career."