Partnering with the UCL Centre for Access to Justice
About the Centre for Access to Justice
Founded in 2013, the Centre for Access to Justice (CAJ) is located within UCL Faculty of Laws and aims to strengthen the connection between the local community, UCL students, and the legal profession.
UCL Laws has been a leader in access to justice and the incorporation of casework and social justice awareness into the law degree programmes we offer. Working with charity organisations and legal professionals, the Centre provides legal assistance to members of the local community while giving students an opportunity to gain hands on experience in meeting legal needs and critically reflecting on the role of law in society.
The Pro Bono Programme at UCL Laws
To encourage students to make the most of their degree while at UCL, the Centre runs a wide-ranging pro bono programme to allow students to develop both personally and professionally and to place their degree in the context of the real world. Each year, between 150-200 students engage in a variety of pro bono projects at UCL Laws, including legal advice and representation, public legal education, and policy/research clinics. These activities not only deliver essential legal services in areas of critical need but also enrich the educational experiences of UCL Law students. Our pro bono opportunities are significantly oversubscribed and we are not able to offer an opportunity to all students who apply. Oversight and management of the pro bono programme at UCL Laws is one of the key activities of the UCL Centre for Access to Justice.
Partnering with the UCL Centre for Access to Justice
What we are looking for?
We are looking for partner organisations who would like volunteer students to support with any of the below tasks or activities:
Client intake/triage
Form filling
Casework
Advocacy support
Supporting with policy/research
Preparing public legal education materials
If there are other areas you would like students to support with that is not listed here, please let us know
We are open to setting up placements working either remotely or in person, whichever suits you.
The placements would ideally take place during term time from November until the end of March. Students may possibly be able to continue after March subject to revision and exam timetables. Placements could be for either a half day or full day depending on the needs of your organisation.
What we offer
We are happy to manage student recruitment on your behalf, advertising, shortlisting, and interviewing students where appropriate. You can be involved as much or as little as you would like in the recruitment process. Where required, we are also able to support with DBS checks.
We also offer students the following training in advance of their placements:
GDPR training
Safeguarding
Working in a Third Sector Environment
Data Protection and Confidentiality
Working with (Vulnerable) Clients
Professional Conduct and Regulation
Self-Care and Resilience
Once students have been selected, we will check in with you and with them throughout the year to ensure their placement is going smoothly. We will also collect feedback and evaluation data which we can share with partner organisations.
While we are able to provide the above general training, organisations would need to provide any organisation specific training necessary as well ensure appropriate supervision.
We would be able to assist you to host remote training sessions and can offer facilities to host in person training sessions (subject to availability).
Potential Timeline
Early October: Student Recruitment
Mid-Late October: Students undertake UCL training and any organisation specific training
Early November: Students Begin Placements
Mid-December: End of Term 1
Early January: Term 2 Begins and Placements resume
End of March: End of Term 2 and placements
If you’d like to discuss further, please feel free to email us at accesstojustice@ucl.ac.uk.