Access to Justice at UCL: Past and Present - Education

2011 

Launch of the LLB Access to Justice and Community Engagement Module 

Access to Justice and Community Engagement (AJCE) was the first clinical legal education module launched in the Faculty, designed to introduce students to access to justice 

issues through a combination of academic study and supervised casework. Students examine the causes and consequences of unmet legal need through seminar discussion while engaging directly with real legal problems through advice work and community engagement. The module provides students with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of social welfare law and the role lawyers play in addressing inequality, while also helping to develop their practical legal skills.  

2013 

Foundation of the Centre for Access to Justice  

The Centre for Access to Justice (CAJ) was established at UCL Laws as part of a social justice mission to bring together research, teaching, and practical legal work focused on improving access to justice. CAJ is a hub for clinical legal education, pro bono initiatives, and empirical research on legal need. Its creation allows students  to engage directly with social justice issues on both a curricular and extra-curricular basis, contribute to legal advice services and community projects and develop practical skills.  

2015

Launch of Access to Justice Theory and Practice Module on the LLM  

Following the successful introduction of our access to justice module on the LLB, this module was created to promote scholarly enquiry into the field on a postgraduate level. It examines contemporary challenges related to public access to legal advice, representation, and justice within the legal system, with a focus on reducing inequalities and promoting social justice. 

2016

Launch of the UCL-HKU Dual LLB Access to Justice Programme  

We continued to broaden our access to justice curricular provision by creating a specific CLE programme for HKU-UCL dual degree students. Alongside working on an allocated placement, students undertake seminars on access to justice issues and engage in  reflective activities and assessment. Placement opportunities have included working in the UCL Integrated Legal Advice Clinic in East London and public legal education initiatives in London schools. 

2017

Launch of the Summer Fellowship Programme at iLAC 

The Summer Fellowship Programme gives students the opportunity to undertake an intensive paid placement at the UCL Integrated Legal Advice Clinic. iLAC is unusual in its commitment to continuing casework through the summer, at a time when other university clinics are closed. Summer Fellows work closely with clinic staff on casework over this three-month period, developing a deeper understanding of social welfare law practice and supporting iLAC to continue delivering an effective service to clients. 

Launch of the UCL Student Pro Bono Committee

This student-led committee was created to play a key role in connecting students with volunteering initiatives, promoting access to justice work, and helping expand student participation in pro bono projects and related learning opportunities. 

2018

Launch of Laws Connections Case Study 

The current LLB programmes begin with an intensive two week induction programme, Laws Connections’: Legal Doctrine and Contemporary Challenges. The programme encourages students to think critically about the role and lawyers and the law in addressing significant social problems. For the Laws’ Connections Homelessness Case Study, first year students wrote a blog post on their learning and reflections. 

Launch of Annual Pro Bono Fair

The Pro Bono Fair is an opportunity for students to meet our partner organisations and current volunteers to chat about volunteer opportunities and application processes. In 2023, the fair had 156 attendees, growing to 222 in 2024 and 304 in 2025.  

2019

First Trainee – Michael Marshall  

UCL iLAC appointed its first trainee solicitor, Michael Marshall, marking its recognition as an approved SRA training provider. Michael qualified in 2021 and continued to work as a qualified solicitor at iLAC until 2025.  Since Michael’s training contract, UCL iLAC has continued to train solicitors and our current paralegal, Lara Rawson will be the third solicitor to qualify at UCL iLAC.  

2020

Launch of the Public Interest Mentorship Scheme  

Description: The Public Interest Mentorship Scheme was created to connect UCL law students with professionals working across public interest legal careers. Through structured mentoring relationships, students are able to access guidance on possible career pathways and professional development. 

2023

Launch of the Pro Bono Skills Development Framework  

The Pro Bono Skills Development Framework was introduced to provide the opportunity for students to reflect on professional and personal skills gained through extra-curricular pro bono work.  The scheme requires participants to engage in reflective written work on their time spent volunteering using a competency framework, with the aim of cultivating reflective professional practice more broadly across the student body.

Launch of Judge Shadowing Scheme

The Centre for Access to Justice’s Judge Shadowing Scheme gives UCL law students the opportunity to observe court proceedings and learn directly from members of the judiciary. As part of CAJ and the Faculty’s broader inclusive law school approach, priority is given to Access UCL Scheme students on the LLB and those who are in receipt of needs-based scholarships on the LLM.

2024

Projects Coordinator Ram Sabaratnam wins UCL Inclusion Award  

Ram Sabaratnam, then Projects Coordinator at the Centre for Access to Justice, received the Sir Stephen Wall award for Inspiring Role Model at the UCL Inclusion Awards. The award acknowledged his efforts to champion diversity and inclusion and create an inclusive and supportive learning environment. 

Launch of the Social Welfare Law Module for LLB Students

This new module introduces students to key areas of social welfare law, including housing, welfare benefits, community care, and education law. Students consider how cases are funded through legal aid and the realities of legal aid practice. The course also considers how to litigate issues of policy and practice in these areas of law to achieve wider social impact. 

2025

Provost’s Award for Improving the Student Experience at the UCL Education Awards

The Centre for Access to Justice team received the Provost’s Education Award for Improving the Student Experience. The award acknowledged CAJ’s innovative processes and practices that significantly improve the student experience and support learning.