We are delighted to announce that the UCL Integrated Legal Advice Clinic (UCL iLAC) has been awarded a legal aid contract in the categories of housing law and community care law. As part of the contract verification process, the Clinic was also awarded the Specialist Quality Mark.
The Clinic is run by the Centre for Access to Justice (CAJ) at the UCL Faculty of Laws.
Obtaining a legal aid contract has been a significant step for the Clinic, now in its second year of operation. As a university in the unique position of holding a legal aid contract, we look forward to offering a full range of pro bono and legal aid services to the local community in Newham. Further, the addition of the legal aid contract will allow us to offer a broader range of educational opportunities for students, from initial advice right through to bringing judicial review proceedings.
Rachel Knowles, the Centre’s Head of Legal Practice, said:
“We are extremely proud of the pro bono services we are able to offer, and we are pleased to now also be able to offer legal aid services to clients. We are very fortunate to have the support of the University to allow us to do what many other legal aid firms are no longer able to do: offer pro bono legal services alongside legally aided service. At a time where legal aid services are at crisis point, it is very exciting that our clinic is able to offer this service and we hope that both students and the community will benefit from it greatly.”
Earlier this summer, the Centre and the Clinic celebrated another huge milestone when they moved out of the temporary spaces they had been occupying into their new permanent home at the Solar House office building. Located on Romford Road, the new space is in the heart of the vibrant Stratford community.
Jacqui Kinghan, the Centre's Head of Teaching and Learning, said:
"We are excited about the learning opportunities ahead for students in the heart of the community, as well as introducing them to the value of legal aid practice through first-hand experience.”
Professor Dame Hazel Genn, the Centre’s Executive Director, said:
“UCL has always recognised the value and importance of the Centre for Access to Justice. We are grateful to UCL for their continued support for the Centre and the UCL Faculty of Laws. The hard work, in particular, of UCL Estates, has ensured that we have a wonderful new space for both students and clients alike.”