A free legal clinic is to be launched following a partnership between three high-profile organisations in Bath.
The initiative, between law firm Stone King, Bath Spa University and Citizens Advice B&NES, will be called The Bath Law Clinic and will see top quality legal advice delivered to local residents while at the same time developing work experience opportunities for the lawyers of the future.
Students on Bath Spa University’s law degree course will gain vital experience at the clinic and will be supported by lawyers from Stone King.
“We are proud and excited to announce the first steps in this long-term strategic partnership with Bath Spa University and Stone King solicitors to provide a law clinic within Bath,” said Les Redwood, Chief Executive Officer at Citizens Advice B&NES.
“Citizens Advice B&NES has been delivering a long-term strategy of greater community engagement and increased partnerships across the region over the last two years and this will be another core partnership for the charity delivered over the course of this coming year.
“This new partnership will give our clients access to free legal advice in a number of specialisms – therefore giving more access to justice for those who need it most.
“The clinic will cover many aspects of law including housing issues, employment, divorce, separation and custody as well as immigration,” said Steven Greenwood, managing partner at Stone King.
“The clinic will be open to all, including families, and will give free legal advice which will then help people understand their options and be able to make the decisions which are right for them.”
Steven Goulton Bath Spa University LLB Law Course leader, added, “This is a fantastic step towards creating a mutually beneficial partnership between BSU, Stone King LLP and Citizens advice BANES which will allow for our students to not only gain key skills and mentorship from solicitors in a leading law firm but also to enable them to understand the concept of social justice from the coal face.
“We are very excited to be working with an award-winning law firm in Stone King and with Les Redwood and the Citizens Advice BANES. Our partnership will ensure all of our mutual aims of enhancing access to justice for the wider community in BANES.”
For general queries and advice please visit: www.citizensadvicebanes.org.uk