Help tackle the South West’s “legal desert” by supporting the University of Exeter’s Community Law Clinic

People can help tackle the serious barriers to accessible legal advice in the South West by supporting a crucial free access to justice clinic. The University of Exeter’s trusted Community Law Clinic is playing a key role in helping those in need.

People can help tackle the serious barriers to accessible legal advice in the South West by supporting a crucial free access to justice clinic.

The University of Exeter’s trusted Community Law Clinic is playing a key role in helping those in need.

Recent years have seen a big increase in the number of people using it and those involved have launched a fundraising campaign to ensure they can reach more customers.

The pro-bono service helps to support people in the region, which has been identified as a law advice “desert”. They face major issues in affording representation and navigating a daunting, and often confusing, legal system.

The student-led clinic has become an important service provider in the community for those unable to otherwise access justice.

During the 2023/24 academic year there was a 23 per cent increase in the number of people seeking employment advice and a 19 per cent increase in numbers seeking advice about housing.

Those who run the clinic want to meet the needs of more people who seek advice from the service. Increased financial support would allow a growth in the number of volunteers and additional supervising lawyers.

Undergraduate law students who participate in the clinic help with issues around consumer rights, housing, employment, parking charges, the enforcement of debts, money claims, data protection and property disputes.

There is also a specialist Immigration Clinic which covers initial leave to remain, entry clearance applications, further leave to remain, settlement applications, refugee family reunion, nationality naturalisation, EU settlement scheme and travel document applications.

Around 150 students volunteer in term time.  They are assisted by qualified legal professionals, including lecturers and local lawyers who volunteer with the clinic. In term time the in-person clinics take place in Exeter City Centre.

Natasha Bellinger, Co-Director of the Clinic and local barrister at Magdalen Chambers, said: “We are grateful that in the past many alumni and supporters have made donations to the Community Law Clinic. We know that going forward we will not be able to achieve our ambitious goals without this kind of support. We would be delighted to hear from any individuals who would be willing to make a donation to the Clinic, as well as any firms who would be willing to support the Clinic as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility programme.”

Kim McDonald, Co-Director and solicitor, said: “We are very keen to be able to help more people get free legal support. This is especially important because of the rising costs of living. Our clinics serve to plug an important gap with the provision of early legal advice to those most in need of it.”

The work of the clinic was recently celebrated at an event attended by many in the legal community in Devon. Those who attended celebrated the success and impact of the clinic.

The Hon Mr Justice Robin Knowles CBE, who opened the Law Clinic in 2017, spoke about access to justice in the country, and how initiatives like the Clinic are “keeping the rule of law alive” in the UK.

Professor Caroline Fournet, head of the University of Exeter Law School, said: “The Law School and the Community Law Clinic would not be able to achieve what it has done without the support of our alumni and the local legal community.”

Individuals or firms who would consider making a philanthropic donation towards the Community Law Clinic can contact Josh Papanicola, Senior Development Manager, by emailing j.papanicola@exeter.ac.uk. The Clinic is also very appreciative of legal professionals who are willing to give their time to support activity, and those interested should contact a2jclinic@exeter.ac.uk. The University of Exeter is a charity and every donation will go towards the Community Law Clinic.

To book an appointment with the clinic for legal support email a2jclinic@exeter.ac.uk.