Liverpool John Moores University’s School of Law initiative will offer assistance in areas of the law including family and employment law, as well as wills and administration. Tony McDonough reports.

Law students at Liverpool John Moores University’s School of Law are offering free legal advice to members of the public.

Areas of the law covered include family and employment law, as well as wills and administration.

The school’s Legal Advice Centre is staffed by students completing the Legal Practice Course, LLM in Qualifying Law and LLB programmes, under the supervision of solicitors from local law firms.

An arm of the Legal Advice Centre, LJMU’s CLOCK scheme, also sees student volunteers working with the Personal Support Unit (PSU) in Liverpool’s Family & Civil Court, offering free lay assistance in family law matters.

Free of charge, specially-trained students can attend court with parties, help explain the complexities of court and assist with form filling and organising papers.

Anyone interested in receiving legal advice is asked to initially make contact with the centre by telephone or via an online form to request an appointment.

They may then be asked to attend a drop-in clinic, where they will receive immediate verbal advice, or they could be asked to attend a face-to-face meeting, and will receive a detailed letter of advice within 14 days of the appointment.

Rachel Stalker, senior lecturer and Legal Advice Centre co-ordinator, said: “The Legal Advice Centre is back for the third year running after many successes.

“It has become a vital service for members of the public who may not otherwise be able to afford legal advice.

“We also aim to get the message out that legal aid can sometimes be available in family cases, and that our students can give free assistance in the Liverpool Family Court court alongside the PSU.”

To arrange an appointment with the centre, visit www.ljmu.ac.uk/legal-advice-request and complete the online form.

To contact LJMU CLOCK to arrange assistance at court with a family matter, go to clock.uk.net or contact the PSU directly on 0151 296 2296.

The law firms supporting the Legal Advice Centre are, Brabners, DWF Heaney Watson, Hill Dickinson, Mark Reynolds, MSB, Morecrofts, QS Jackson and Canter, Simpsons and Weightmans.

The LJMU CLOCK scheme is supported by Liverpool Community Advice, Vauxhall Community Law and Information Centre, and Citizens Advice Sefton, as well as the PSU.

PSU is an independent charity supporting people going through the court process without legal representation, and helped more than 4,300 people in Liverpool in 2014-15.