Northumbria University’s Student Law Office has won the Pro Bono/Community Initiative category in the highly anticipated Northern Law Awards 2023.
The Northern Law Awards celebrate the great wealth of legal talent and success within the region and is the law event for all those practising and working in the legal industry in the North of England. Winners were presented with their awards at the Hilton NewcastleGateshead.
Northumbria’s Student Law Office is known for its a pioneering approach – where law students undertake free legal work under professional supervision to support real clients. It was praised by the judges who described a “highly engaged team offering real support to the community in all aspects of legal advice.”
The Student Law Office has managed more than 7,000 enquiries, represented more than 3,000 clients and secured over £1.6 million on their behalf since 2005.
Kayliegh Richardson, co-Director of the Student Law Office, from Northumbria Law School, said: “Winning the Pro Bono/Community Initiative category at the Northern Law Awards is a superb achievement and recognises the fantastic work of the staff and students in the provision of legal advice and assistance to the North East community and facilitating access to justice. We are proud of the exceptional results our students achieve and the positive difference they make for members of the public, businesses and community groups.”
Professor Robert MacIntosh, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Business and Law at Northumbria, added: “The Student Law Office showcases one of Northumbria’s signature strengths in providing our students with hands-on legal practice experience, enriching both their learning experience whilst at university and their employment prospects when they are ready to leave. Winning this latest award also demonstrates the social and economic contribution Northumbria makes to individuals and to the region. It is a world-leading law clinic, I congratulate our colleagues and students on their success and we are already looking at ways to expand the scope and impact of this great service.”
