Law School’s Pro Bono Activity ‘Highly Commended’ at National Awards Ceremony

LJMU’s Exceptional Case Funding Clinic was ‘highly commended’ at an awards ceremony this week.

The clinic, which opened to clients in October 2022, was nominated in the LawWorks & Attorney General Student Pro Bono Award for Best New Pro Bono Activity. The nomination recognises the clinic's outstanding contribution by LJMU students and staff to provide legal support to those in exceptional need.

The Exceptional Case Funding Clinic was one of five university projects/clinics to be nominated in the category with LJMU’s Law School narrowly missing out on the award to the University of Chester. Both LJMU and the University of Liverpool’s Special Educational Needs Judicial Review Project were highly commended in the category.

Dr. Michelle Waite who leads the clinic in LJMU’s School of Law, attended the awards ceremony held at the House of Lords on Thursday 9 May with LJMU staff and students.

The LawWorks and Attorney General’s Student Pro Bono awards celebrate the best pro bono activities undertaken by law students and law schools across the UK. This year, over 50 nominations were received, representing thirty-two law schools and education institutions across the UK. Alongside LJMU, University of Liverpool and University of Chester, the shortlisted nominees for Best New Pro Bono Activity included: City Community Legal Advice Centre Housing and PIP Service, The City Law School, City, University of London; and Welfare Law Clinic, University of Plymouth.

The University of Chester’s Reach out to Survivors: Domestic abuse project was announced as the winner in the presence of the Attorney General, the Rt Hon. Victoria Prentis KC MP. Students Zoe Hannigan, Mouna Alia, Lainie O’Reilly, and Maria Rochette attended the ceremony with Dr. Waite. The University of Liverpool’s Special Educational Needs Judicial Review Project was also highly commended.

The awards also recognised achievements in categories such as Best Contribution by an Individual Student, Best Contribution by a Law School (undergraduate and postgraduate), and Best Contribution by a Team of Students as well as the winners of the Advocate and LawWorks Law School Challenge 2023-2024.

On being nominated, Rachel, Subject Leader & Reader in Clinical Legal Education (Associate Professor), said: “I am delighted that the work of Dr. Waite and her dedicated team of clinic students have been recognised at a national level for their contribution to access to justice. The Exceptional Case Funding clinic has made an enormous difference to its clients’ lives – ensuring the protection of their rights and getting them fully funded representation at a time when they are often at their most vulnerable”.

Dr Michelle added: “I am incredibly proud of the work the student team has done since the Exceptional Case Funding Clinic opened and it’s fantastic that they have been recognised by LawWorks and the Attorney-General. The team’s work has enabled the clients of the Clinic to make practical use of their human rights, which are there to guarantee that legal processes are fair, and that people can meaningfully take part in them. It’s so important because at the end of the day, what’s the point of having rights if you can’t use them?”

LJMU’s Exceptional Case Funding Clinic

The ECF Clinic assists clients in making applications for Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) to the Legal Aid Agency (LAA), ensuring access to legal advice and representation for those unable to afford it themselves. Students at the clinic work with clients from start to finish, supporting them through the application process and advocating for their rights. This includes meetings with each client, the completion of legal aid forms, preparations of a supporting statement and gathering evidence to support the application, submission of the application to LAA, dealing with subsequent correspondence with LAA and challenging refusals of ECF where appropriate.

To date, the clinic has supported 20 clients, and the applications submitted to the Legal Aid Agency have been 100% successful.

As of May 10, 2024: 11 applications have been determined and resulted in a grant of funding for the client, 4 applications are awaiting a decision by the LAA, and 5 applications are in progress and will be submitted shortly.

The ECF Clinic team is made up of third-year Law students who elect to take either the Advanced Clinical Legal Education module (a year-long module) or the Clinical Legal Education II module (semester 2 only). In the academic year 2022-23, 19 students participated, and in the current academic year 2023-24, 24 students are involved, making a total of 43 students contributing to the ECF Clinic's impactful work.

This recognition underscores the clinic's dedication to promoting access to justice and upholding human rights through the provision of legal aid. LJMU’s ECF Clinic continues to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those in need. Michelle mentioned that most of the clients seen so far have been people with family law problems and that the Clinic hopes to help more people with welfare benefits problems this year.