Free advice in family law cases

A unique law clinic at Teesside University has teamed up with several local firms of solicitors to offer a free legal advice service in family law cases.

Since the changes to legal aid last year, financial support in family cases has been limited or removed altogether.

Teesside University Law Clinic is now operating a weekly drop-in clinic where people can get advice on matters including divorce, adoption and domestic violence.

The pilot scheme will run until the end of March, but it is hoped the service will become permanent depending on the demand.

Since opening in 2012, Teesside University Law Clinic has received over 800 enquiries for legal advice. It is a student run service which provides third year law students with the opportunity to work on real cases with the supervision of law lecturers and solicitors.

The law clinic has now teamed up with Appleby Hope and Matthews Solicitors, Brown Beer Nixon Mallon Solicitors, Freers Solicitors and David Scourfield Solicitors for its family law project.

Those seeking legal advice in family cases can drop into the law clinic, which is based in the University’s Clarendon Building, on Wednesday afternoons between 2.00pm and 4.00pm.

Andrew Perriman, Senior Law Lecturer, who runs Teesside University Law Clinic, said: 'We receive a number of family law related enquiries in the clinic and there was an opportunity for us to get more students involved in providing a vital service to the public by running this pilot project, which we hope to roll out in the next academic year.

'We are seeing an increase in the workload and it is becoming evident that the lack of financial assistance available as a result of cuts to legal aid has seen a decrease in the number of people being able to get access to the justice they deserve. In family law for example, we are aiming to provide advice on a number of matters including divorce and separation, adoption, residence and contact, honour based and forced marriages and domestic violence to name but a few.'

Helen Scourfield of David Scourfield Solicitors added: 'With all of the cuts to legal aid and the restriction of access to justice for members of the public, this project offers a two tier approach. Firstly it will mean that people will have the benefit of free legal advice when they are at their most vulnerable and secondly, it will provide invaluable training for the students, our future lawyers.'

Teesside University Law Clinic is also currently campaigning to overturn the ‘same roof rule’ and secure fair compensation for all victims of historical sexual abuse. It has launched a legal challenge on behalf of one victim and if successful the case could act as a catalyst for other claimants.

The family law project is intended to be a drop-in service, though demand is likely to be high and appointments can be made by contacting Teesside University Law Clinic on 01642 738738.

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