Our work in the legal education sector aims to foster an enduring pro bono culture amongst law students and law schools. We hope this induction page will give students a brief overview and introduction.
Contents
- Welcome
- Introduction from LawWorks
- Client confidentiality and GDPR
- Regulation and supervision
- Professionalism
- Commercial awareness
- Volunteering in the not-for-profit sector
- Student wellbeing
- Conflicts of interest
- Working with vulnerable clients
- Interviewing and note taking skills
- Letter writing and legal research skills
- Sharing documents and document security (Clio)
- Case and matter analysis
- Rule of law
- LexisNexis resources
- Equality, diversity and inclusion
- Litigants in Person Support Strategy
Welcome with Alasdair Douglas, Chair, LawWorks
Introduction from LawWorks
Clare Johnson provides a general overview of LawWorks, demonstrating LawWorks online resources, training, podcasts, webinars, template docs including our Student Handbook.
Client confidentiality and GDPR
Vicky Ling, legal services consultant introduces the importance of client confidentiality, data protection and the basics of what students need to know about GDPR
Regulation and supervision
Professionalism
An in-house banking solicitor introduces professionalism with reference to codes of conduct, the Pro Bono Protocol, and ethics: what students need to know and be aware of now and throughout their careers as lawyers.
Commercial awareness
Students need an understanding of the nature of business, good working relationships, business reputation, sustainability. Hannah Frost, Solicitor from Shoosmiths, Birmingham, introduces how the law works in a commercial context.
Volunteering in the not-for-profit sector
Judi Lincoln, Norwich Community Law Services talks about volunteering in the not-for-profit sector
Wellbeing
Richard Owen, Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law, will introduce issues of student wellbeing, resilience, safeguarding issues.
Conflicts of interest
Amy Tabari, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham discusses conflicts of interest in a free legal advice clinic setting.
Working with vulnerable clients
Eleanor Barrow, LawWorks talks about working with vulnerable clients.
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Resources: Advising vulnerable clients
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- Law Society guidance on meeting the needs of vulnerable clients
- SRA guidance on providing services to people who are vulnerable
- Rethink factsheet on how to support someone with suicidal thoughts
- Mind webpage on supporting someone who feels suicidal
- Samaritans guidance: if you are worried about someone else
- LawWorks guidance: Designing accessible services
Signposting references:
- Refuge, Women’s Aid, Respect Men’s Advice Line for support with domestic abuse
- Mind website for mental health information and support
- C.A.L.L. helpline confidential listening support service (Wales)
- Step Change and Money Advice Service for support with debt and finances
- Citizens Advice
Interviewing and note taking skills
Laura Hyde, Aston University, gives an introduction about how to interview clients and take effective notes.
Letter writing and legal research skills
Matthew Gray, University of Law - Manchester, introduces students to letter writing and legal research skills.
Sharing documents and document security
Monika Danielska, University of Manchester introduces students to a system for managing documents, using Clio.
Case and matter analysis
Matthew Gray, University of Law - Manchester, introduces case and matter analysis, and provides a method for reviewing a file.
Rule of law
James Harper, Executive Sponsor, Rule of Law and CSR for LexisNexis UK & Ireland talks about the principle of The Rule of Law and its fundamental significance in the context of pro bono volunteering.
LexisNexis resources
Mary Abidakun provides an introduction for students to Lexis Nexis’ resources.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Sibon Phiri from United Legal Access provides an introduction for students to equality, diversity and inclusion, including unconscious bias issues.
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Resources: Equality, diversity and inclusion
Litigants in Person Support Strategy (LiPSS)
This video introduces the partners in the Litigants in Person Support Strategy, includes guidance on how to refer to Advocate, explains what Support Through Court does, and gives an introduction to AdviceNow resources.