At UCL Faculty of Laws we encourage our students to put their
knowledge and skills to practical use in the community and see how the law
can be used as an effective instrument for social change. We provide opportunities
and support students in a range of activities from shadowing lawyers on active
casework to educating local school children about their rights and working
on international human rights campaigns. Students can become involved in pro
bono both through either the UCL Student Human Rights Programme or the Law
Society (see below).
The Faculty also recognises the importance of clinical legal
education and provides a unique opportunity for final year students to take
an optional course entitled Access to Justice and Community Engagement. This
course allows students to conduct casework at leading UK NGOs in the field
of Criminal Justice and Human Rights. For more course information and
on student pro bono activities at UCL generally, contact Jacqueline
Kinghan: j.kinghan@ucl.ac.uk
Our Pro Bono blog provides an online space for students to engage with each other and the public on issues relevant to their pro bono and clinical work in the community. To join the conversation: http://probonoblog.laws.ucl.ac.uk/
UCL Student Human Rights Programme
The UCL Student Human Rights Programme is committed to campaigning on policy
and legal issues in the sphere of human rights. Students can work on their ‘Grassroots’ programme
teaching human rights in London schools, conduct influential research as part
of the Interventions team or participate in the educational events organised
on campus. For more information and how to get involved, please visit their
website at www.uclshrp.com
UCL Law Society Pro Bono Projects
Community Links
This is an opportunity for students to help complete
social security forms (welfare, debt, benefits) for community members in
Canning Town in sessions every Wednesday from 9am-11am. There are also a
number of summer opportunities for students to conduct tribunal work. Students
are given valuable experience of meeting face to face with clients and building
interview and communication skills. www.community-links.org/get-involved/volunteering-with-the-advice-team
Buddy Days with IntoUniversity
The aim of the project inspires secondary
school students to view university as a viable opportunity and to help them
fulfil
their
full potential. Students work with IntoUniversity which collaborates with
schools from under-privileged background and aims not only to inspire young
people to see university as a future goal but also have positive ambitions
for the future. UCL students conduct tours for school children on campus, give
presentations and conduct workshops. www.intouniversity.org/content/volunteer-us
Whitechapel Mission with Olswang
An annual event where students take part in an initiatives organised by the
charity Whitechapel Mission. Last year, along with trainnees from Olswang,
students went to the homeless shelter and helped
make breakfast. This year they will be collecting money for the charity and
assisting the charity more generally. This project helps develop interpersonal
skills and community awareness. www.whitechapel.org.uk/kchallenge.php
Crime and Citizenship
The Law Society provides volunteers for this project, run by the Crime and
Citizenship Society at UCL. Students are trained by the society itself, to
deliver interactive sessions to primary school students about criminal law
and their citizenship rights. The project enhances public-speaking skills,
as well as communication skills.
RCJ CAB
Students shadow solicitors from Slaughter and May at the Royal Court of Justice
Citizen’s Advice Bureau. It is an excellent opportunity to observe how
a solicitor builds rapport with a client and to generally view the client-solicitor
relationship and helps develop legal research skills, which are important in
the academic study of law as well as your
career.
Pro Bono Talent Show
This is a chance for UCL law students to unite and put on a show for the rest
of the Faculty. This annual show takes place in March and is a huge success,
raising money for the micro-finance charity: Opportunity International.
Justice for All UCL law students have been involved with raising awareness on the proposed legal aid reforms through the cross-party campaign group Justice for All. Events in the Faculty have addressed provisions of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill and sought to inform the ongoing debate surrounding cuts to legal aid.
Jacqueline Kinghan (Faculty Pro Bono Supervisor)
Jack Palmer-Coole (Pro Bono Officer, Student Law Society Committee 2011-12)
National Admissions Test
for Law (LNAT)
All applicants are required to take the
LNAT as soon as possible and no later than 20 January (registration
deadline 15 January).
Please see our Frequently
Asked Questions page before you contact the Admissions Office. Telephone:
(lines open 3pm - 5pm, Monday to Friday)
020 7679 1492
020 7679 1415
020 7679 1009
The Undergraduate Admissions Team does not accept drop-in visitors or
visitors by appointment. Please refer to Contact
Us for information regarding visiting UCL and Open Day events.
