Pro bono services at Birmingham

Birmingham FLAG, the largest Pro Bono Group project, offers free legal advice to clients on an appointment-only basis. FLAG provides students with opportunities to help vulnerable members of the local community and to work on real cases covering a range of legal areas.

Students work under the guidance of solicitors and barristers from our partner organisations: No5 Chambers, Mills & Reeve LLP, and Shakespeare Martineau to develop their interviewing, client care, research and drafting skills. FLAG also gives our volunteers an active role in responding to legal aid cuts and helping to resolve pressing legal problems.

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This was the Pro Bono Group's first initiative and is open to all of our student volunteer members.  Student work in the community, in a variety of settings such as community groups, schools, public sector organisations and agencies, deliver interactive legal education sessions on a wide variety of topics.

Streetlaw presentations have focused on themes including: drugs legislation; parental rights; human rights, such as diversity, religion, disability and mental illness; rights and obligations of tenants and landlords.

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In conjunction with the Environmental Law Foundation (ELF) this is a sister-project to FLAG, providing a free advice service by appointment to individuals and community groups in the specialised areas of Planning and Environmental Law.

In addition to advice provision, ELM also undertakes research on key areas of environmental impact in collaboration with organisations such as Oxfam or the United Nations.

Based in the Birmingham Civil Justice Centre, PSU provides essential emotional and practical support to people going through litigation without legal representation.

Student volunteers contribute through helping indivduals to formulate coherent statement, complete forms and by providing moral support in difficult circumstances. This also gives our volunteers a window into the court process.

Students assist solicitors from the local Law Centre as they advise clients on matters of immigration and employment law.  This involves interviewing clients and assisting solicitors with case work as they help some of the most vulnerable people in the region.

Student volunteers are based in the BCLC offices, gaining hands-on experience of practice in a busy advice centre.

Working with the Employment Lawyers Association, through which qualified solicitors and barristers volunteer their time to provide advice and representation to unrepresented individuals struggling with the tribunal process, our students support with initial interviews and administration.