April Newsletter

Case work updates

April is always a slow month at the Strathclyde Law Clinic. Our clinic is almost entirely student run, which unfortunately means that April clashes with two major events: the Easter holidays and dreaded exams. With events slightly slowing down, our advisors showed no sign of stopping their case work. Here are some of things our advisors got up to this month…

  • Two of our students attended a preliminary hearing on Monday.
  • Two advisors achieved a good outcome for a temporary suspension order review, it will now go to a full fitness to practice hearing.
  • One of our advisors has now settled an Employment Appeal Case.
  • Two of our students only half a day left of a 5 day Employment Tribunal.
  • Many of our advisors are working on challenging cases at the moment.

Executive Committee 2024/2025

2024-2025 Executive Committee

We are excited to announce the new executive committee for 2024/25! Thank you so much to everyone who applied and interviewed, and an extra well done to those who have been appointed.

Student Directors: Natalie Marshall, Corey Beaton and Gordon Gow 

Firm Co-ordinators: Adam Crainie, Afton Cook, Ava Ferguson, Nikki Munro and Anna Gren

Communications Officer: Abbie Clark

Depute Communications Officers: Allana Williams and Emma Campbell 

Training Officers: Callum Butterworth and Jessica Jayan 

EDI Officer: Abby MacKay

IAC Co-ordinators: Lauren Weetman and Scott Gillanders

IAC Depute Co-ordinators: Harbani Kaur Kohli

Online Co-ordinator: Hannah Stewart

Online Depute Co-ordinator: Megan Buggy 

SWRC Co-ordinator: Heather Dickson 

TAP Co-ordinator: Saeed Azodazad 

Events

Mediation Clinic Training

An important aspect of access to justice is looking for other possible solutions for our clients. Sometimes this can involve exploring the option of mediation as a means to avoid court action if possible. In spirit of this a few of our student advisors attended a mediation training run by the Strathclyde mediation clinic on the 25th April.

This event was facilitated by Charlie Irvine, and allowed us the opportunity to watch a mediation in action. Charlie also highlighted key aspects of mediation and the differing tactics that could be used in critical moments. Both Elise Schwarz and Alan Jeffrey did an exemplary job as co-mediators, and I for one found this experience to be highly educational. This has been particularly useful for our first year Clinical LLB students who undertake advocacy and mediation seminars, and will be assessed on either advocacy or mediation during exam season.

A huge thank you must go to the parties involved, Charlie Irvine, Elise Schwarz, and Alan Jeffrey. Your demonstration was highly commendable and goes a long way in helping our student advisors provide more effective legal advice.

Upcoming SULCN Conference

This year Strathclyde Law Clinic will be hosting the annual SULCN conference! This year’s event will include a workshop on teamwork and representation, panel discussion and a key note speech by Employment Tribunal Judge David Holey.

Strathclyde Law Clinic is a member of the Scottish University Law Clinic Network (SULCN). SUCLN is an initiative that brings together and raises awareness of student law clinics in Scotland. The SULCN conference serves the purpose of strengthening links between clinics and learn lessons from one another to best serve our combined purpose of access to justice.

The conference will be held on 20th May at 2-5pm, tickets are available at the following link: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/DJBA. If you have any further questions please direct them to our SULCN Representative Holly Cherry at holly.cherry.2021@uni.strath.ac.uk.

Advisor / Alumni News

Paman Singh

It is always particularly wonderful to see how far our previous student advisors have gone, taking with them values of equality and access to justice. Paman Singh, now a solicitor advocate and principal associate at Weightmans, previously worked in the law clinic as both a student advisor and external communications officer. He is a dual accredited specialist in both discrimination and employment law, the quickest ever to achieve this accreditation. To add to his particurlarly impressive accolades, Paman has been sworn in as a Judge of the Sikh Court at the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn in England.

The Sikh Court is a new option for Alternative Dispute Resolution to help those in the Sikh community resolve disputes. This will help combat one of the chief complaints with ADR, the waiting times involved in the system.

Harbani Kohli

One of our advisors, Harbani Kohli represented Strathclyde University at the Semi Final & Final of the Principal Sheriff’s Moot hosted by the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow. The moots were held against City of Glasgow College and Glasgow Caledonian University, judged by Sheriff Brian Mohan and Sheriff Principal Anwar. Harbani Kohli and her co-mooter won the overall moot progressing to the final stage where they won the final! Huge congratulations to Harbani for her hardwork and excellent mooting skills.

“All participating mooters had incredible arguments and I am delighted to have progressed to the Final alongside my partner. I had a fascinating conversation with the organisers and Sheriff Brian Mohan about his early days in practice and his unanticipated career as a Sheriff. It made me realise that unexpected opportunities can change the trajectory of our goals!”

Harbani Kohli

Eva Ralston

On Thursday 28th March myself and three Strathclyde Spanish Students participated in the annual spanish debate against the University of Glasgow! It was an honour to be selected to represent the University at this year’s event. The topic was on the use of AI in University and the challenges and opportunities it offers. The Strathclyde team comprised two final year students and two third year students, all with a commendable level of spanish language. It was an exciting and competitive evening, with a panel of three external judges, all of whom are at the top of the linguistic game! The debate went back and fourth between Strathclyde and Glasgow, where we argued various points of view using statistics and academia. This was following weeks and months of meetings and research, all of which extra-curricular, in between exam and assignment time! Glasgow conveyed some compelling arguments and a really high level of language but, ultimately, it was the competitive edge of team Strath that got the win!  It was a really interesting event and the first time I had participated in a debate in Spanish and it undoubtedly allowed me to further develop my confidence and public speaking skills in a second-language, especially on a topic that is very relevant and somewhat controversial. I managed to include some legal points of view that definitely contribute to the win! I’m delighted that our hard work paid off and it was a lovely way to round off my final semester at University.

March Newsletter

Case updates:

This has been a busy month for casework. Well done to all of our Student Advisors involved in cases at the moment, and thank you for your hard work! Here are some things our advisors have achieved this month…

  • Retrieved a deposit that was not placed in an approved scheme.
  • Represented a client in an Employment Tribunal, which lasted for three days.
  • Achieved an excellent settlement for a client.
  • Completed their first ever representation at a Preliminary Hearing.
  • Took on an SSSC fitness to practice case, which was dropped by the panel as a result.
  • Completed a difficult ET1 form and agenda.
  • One of our advisors was told on Friday that a housing hearing was going ahead on Monday, and managed to prepare to represent in that short space of time. This is no easy feat, particularly given the hectic time of the academic year.  

Events and Training

International Women’s Day Event

On March 6th, the Strathclyde Law Clinic held an International Women’s Day event in partnership with the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre and Just Right Scotland. The event was spearheaded by project supervisor Amy Woodcook, and it celebrated the contributions of women in law, emphasizing the need for further advancements. Highlights included speeches from female legal professionals, the introduction of the FollowIt app by Nicola Mooney for aiding stalking survivors, and insightful talks by Hannah Fergusson and Rebecca Coltart on the importance of empathy and communication in legal support for survivors. The event, opened by Clinic director Kate Laverty, also featured a special appearance by The Right Honourable Lady Sarah Wolffe KC, who shared her experiences and reflections on women’s evolving roles in law.

To hear more about the event check out our Instagram or other articles on the topic at https://www.lawclinic.org.uk/updates/international-womens-day-at-strathclyde-law-clinic or https://www.justrightscotland.org.uk/2024/03/empowering-women-in-law-insights-from-our-investher-event/.

SSSC Training

Recently, we had a fantastic session on SSSC fitness to practice hearings by Tom Miller, a senior solicitor at the Scottish Social Services Council.

Thank you so much to Tom for coming in to provide training. This was an extremely insightful session which I am sure will serve our advisors well on future cases.

Training is invaluable for our student advisors, allowing us to grow and be able to provide better, more effective services to members of the public. Sessions such as these help achieve our mission of access to justice.

Advisor News:

Dissertations

It has been an extremely busy period for our honours year students. They have recently handed in their dissertations. A huge congratulations must go to all our advisors writing dissertations! Many of our student advisors completing dissertations balance, the Law Clinic, having executive committee positions, jobs and more! You have all done an incredible job and put in an impressive amount of hard work.

Exam Season

With assignment season (just about) completed, our Student Advisors are now busy preparing for final exams. We want to take this opportunity to wish you all the best of luck!

Law Ball

We also just want to take this opportunity thank the Law Society for their hard work in organising this year’s Law Ball which took place on the 22nd March 2023, and was enjoyed by many of our members!

Other News:

Ramadan

As we enter the month of Ramadan it is important to be considerate of Muslim students and colleagues.

The University of Strathclyde has four prayer spaces on campus with the following facilities:

  1. St Paul’s Building, Basement Level 2 Martha Street, Glasgow G1 1BX – sisters prayear room, brothers prayer room, separate brothers and sisters kitchen, separate brothers and sisters wudhu area, socialising area, sisters study area, Qurans and Islamic books, prayer mats, prayer fresses for sisters.
  2. Andersonian library reflection room, entrance level, opposite to Starbucks – prayer room separated by a curtain, prayer mats, Qurans and Islamic books, prayer dresses for sisters, chairs.
  3. Student union reflection room, Level 2 near the stairs (ask reception for help to find the location if needed) – lockable prayer room, chair with a table.
  4. Graham Hills reflection room – main entrance level (George Street) opposite to doors – prayer room, prayer mats, Quarans and Islamic books, prayer dresses for sisters.

For further information or support please get in contact with Strathclyde University Muslim Students Association (SUMSA) at https://www.strathunion.com/groups/find-a-society/society/sumsa/ or the University Chaplaincy service at https://www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/ourcampus/whatsoncampus/faithspiritualitysupport/meetourchaplains/.

Linkedin Alumni Group:

This month our alumni group launched on Linkedin. This group is for our alumni to connect with current advisors and each other, reminisce on old memories, provide advice and explore further opportunities to volunteer.

You can check this out on our Linkedin via requesting to join with the following link – https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13001246.

Exam Top Tips

Whilst the Easter weekend is a time to indulge in chocolate, for Strathclyde law students, it also means the impending exams. To help students prepare for these exams, the Comms team have shared some exam tips to help them get through the final academic push.
  1. The relative test – Legal concepts can be extremely complex. To ensure that you have truly understood them, try explaining them to someone who isn’t well-versed in law. A relative or roommate will tend to ask questions. If you can answer these, you truly understand the concepts.
  2. Focusing revision – Examiners are looking for critical analysis, and thus, in essay questions, the papers tend to be focused on specific academic debates in that area of law. Look through your notes for these points of debate as these will likely come up.
  3. Definitions and spelling – Learn key definitions and spelling! Key terminology is very important which can be very difficult with Latin or similar words. No one wants to mess up in involuntary obligations because they can’t remember how to spell rescission, and they got mixed up with all the judicial remedies!
  4. Read the questions properly!  – Missing out key bits of exam questions will harm your grades. Wise words from a teacher I once had – don’t do anything for the first minute of your exam, take a breather and then read over the questions slowly and dissect it. If you follow this method, it becomes much harder to misread the question.
  5. Stay in good health – This applies to both your physical and mental health. Ensure you are sleeping enough, try not to pull too many all-nighters and stay away from caffeine as much as possible. Exams are necessary but not as important as your heart health. Ensure you aren’t neglecting your body: drink water, staying hydrated can aid in memory retention, and make sure to eat enough. Try to carry on exercising, even if you can’t complete an entire gym session or workout something as simple as 5-10 minutes of yoga can greatly aid your mental health.
  6. Know when to stop – As much as you may have seen the infamous Kay Chung’s all-nighter TikToks, sometimes knowing when to stop is just as important as all your revision. Working yourself into a pit of fatigue will not help with your exams, so remember to take breaks. My favourite way to do this is via the Pomodoro method, where you work for around 25 minutes and take a 5-minute break. As a chronic fidgeter, this can be very helpful in maintaining focus.
  7. Try not to become a hermit – Talk to friends, go out and engage in activities. Anything from a coffee break to a sports practice. Remember, you have a life outside of law school, and keeping it up even with exams helps you not to burn out.

February Newsletter

Case Highlights

Two of our advisors have been dealing with a complicated employment case involving whistleblowing, and are dong a great job drafting and managing the case as it progresses. 

Two of our students represented their client in a Preliminary Hearing before the Employment Tribunal in a disability discrimination claim. They prepared well for the hearing and handled the discussion about the issues in the case very well.  

A number of students are working on Employment Tribunal and Housing cases with hearings scheduled for March with some of these students juggling pressing academic commitments at this time of year, including dissertation deadlines. Well done to all of them for keeping up with their case work.  

Events

Simple Procedure Training with Patrick Campbell Corcoran

This month, one of our alumni, Patrick Campbell Corcoran, visited the Law Clinic to give us all training on simple procedure. Simple procedure is an integral part of the work we do in the Law Clinic

Patrick provided an excellent comprehensive training session, filled with tips and tricks on how to conduct yourself when advocating for clients.

Thank you so much to Patrick for his wonderful training and resources for our student advisors!

Impact and Knowledge Exchange Showcase 

As part of an Impact and Knowledge Exchange Showcase event organised by Genevieve Lennon from the Law School, the Law Clinic took part in the poster exhibition and Amy Woodcock, student co-ordinator of the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre spoke about the work of the Centre as well as producing a poster showcasing the Centres work.  

Public Legal Education

Saeed Azodazad, Emma Campbell and Harbani Kohli recently delivered a talk on how to deal with issues arising in social housing to Govan Community Project. Following this, we received a call from a member of the public asking if she could attend the next session, and also a request from the group organiser to run the session again for their women’s group later in the year.  This is great feedback, so huge well done to them. 

It was a great experience to meet the local community and get their ideas about future PLE Sessions. I look forward to delivering more sessions in the future 

– Emma Campbell 

Pro Bono Skills.com Virtual Event

Advisors attended an online event held by probonoskills.com which featured Staś Kużmierkiewicz from Covington & Burling LLP and Nabil Khabirpour from the Law Corner speaking on ‘Careers and Connections in the Pro Bono Sphere’.

“The event consisted of an insightful discussion between Staś and Nabil about the role Pro Bono work has taken in their professional life. My biggest takeaway from the discussion was learning about the pair’s experience integrating Pro Bono work with their busy lives, and the place that their employers have created for the work they are passionate about. The discussion has really shaped my ambitions, now harbouring a belief that I can continue to work towards access to justice whilst pursuing a career in other areas.”  

– Event Attendee

Advisor News

In the spirit of international women’s day, both Alyssa Smart and Heather Dickinson were nominated for awards for their work in the women in leadership network. They have been student advisors since October 2022 as well as working with WILN at Strathclyde. Heather is also one of our volunteers for the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre, helping with the International Women’s Day Event held in March. Congratulations to both Heather and Alyssa!

Other News:

LGBT History Month by Corey Beaton

As I reflect on what I wrote less than a year ago for Pride Month 2023, it is with a heavy heart that I write about the bleaker picture which is presented to us less than twelve months later.

From the Jordanian security forces’ crackdown on LGBT activists in December 2023 to the Russian Supreme Court’s ruling that the “international LGBT movement” is extremist, these actions are not unusual among the 62 other countries whose laws do not recognise nor protect the rights of its LGBTQ+ citizens.

While we recognise the repeal of section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 and the introduction of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 as being significant milestones in the journey towards the mainstreaming of LGBT rights in Scotland, we ought to stand in solidarity with those to whom no legal protections are afforded.

The law has consistently been an effective vehicle for change when wielded in a way which is just and equitable. There is no reason why the same should not be done to protect those who do not enjoy the same rights and protections under the law as we all do, irrespective of our sexes, gender identities, or sexual orientations.

To that end, we should all give thanks to the progress and change which the LGBTQ+ movement has campaigned so valiantly and resiliently for in the fifty-one years since London heralded its first Pride march, and we should strive to campaigning alongside it in pursuit of greater protections for some of the most marginalised individuals in society.

Endometriosis Awareness Month by Sophie Christie

In light of our International Women’s Day event earlier this month, I find myself empowered to shed light on a prevalent but often misunderstood health condition affecting millions of women across the UK: Endometriosis. 

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a chronic and often debilitating condition affecting millions of women worldwide, with a significant impact on their quality of life. It occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grows outside the womb, commonly affecting the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the lining the pelvis, as well as other organs in the body. This misplaced tissue responds to the menstrual cycle in the same way as the tissue inside the uterus, causing inflammation, pain, and the formation of scar tissue.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

The symptoms of endometriosis can vary widely among individuals but most commonly include chronic pelvic pain, painful periods (dysmenorrhea), heavy menstrual bleeding, increased urination, fatigue, and infertility.  In the UK, it is estimated that around 1.5 million women are currently living with this condition, with an average diagnosis time of 7.5 years from the onset of symptoms. However, these symptoms are often mistaken for other conditions, leading to further delays in diagnosis.

As a law student, I understand firsthand that managing the symptoms of endometriosis whilst balancing academic responsibilities can be incredibly challenging. The unpredictable nature of the condition, with flare-ups and periods of intense pain, can disrupt study schedules and impact overall academic/work performance.

Navigating Treatment Options

It is important to understand that there is currently no cure for endometriosis. Any treatment provided will aim to manage symptoms and improve quality of life. This can include pain management through medication, hormone therapy to regulate the menstrual cycle, and surgery to remove endometrial tissue and scar tissue. However, finding the right treatment approach can be a complex process, requiring careful consideration of individual symptoms and preferences, and often comes with its own array of horrible side effects. 

As a student, I understand that managing appointments, referrals, and treatment plans while juggling academic commitments can be daunting and difficult to say the least. This is why it is essential to communicate your condition to your workplace or educational institution, which will enable them to provide you with the necessary support tailored to your needs.

Raising Awareness and Stopping the Stigma

For generations, there has been an enduring stigma surrounding discussions of women’s healthcare, which has often been dismissed as a ‘gross’ and taboo topic. This societal perception has contributed to a culture of silence and discomfort surrounding important issues such as menstrual health, reproductive care, and gynaecological concerns. Therefore, it is crucial to break this cycle of stigma and encourage open dialogue about women’s health. By normalising conversations about these topics, we not only empower women to take control of their own health but also create a supportive environment where individuals feel comfortable seeking the information, support, and resources they require. Moreover, by sharing our own experiences and speaking up about women’s healthcare, we can help dismantle outdated stereotypes and pave the way for greater awareness, education, and advocacy for women’s health issues. On a final note, it is important to remember that women’s health concerns, including those related to reproductive health, are normal bodily functions, and considering this any differently would be equivalent to stigmatising other innate aspects of human biology.

For more information visit – https://www.endometriosis-uk.org

International Women’s Day at Strathclyde Law Clinic

On March 6th, the Strathclyde Law Clinic hosted our International Women’s day event in collaboration with the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre and Just Right Scotland. We work closley with the SWRC as one of the projects within the clinic, and through the hard work of Amy Woodcook, our project supervisor, the event brought together, staff, students, professionals and advocates from the legal community to commemorate the work of women in law and how this can be furthered.

The event featured speeches by many female professionals in the legal sphere, who shared their experiences in law and the importance of advcoacy for gender equality.

Our own Kate Laverty, one of the Law Clinic’s directors opened the event with a speech on the importance of advocating for women’s rights. She has worked with the University of Strtahlcyde Law Clinic for 17 years and is instrumentally important in the running of the clinic.

This was followed by Nicola Mooney‘s presentation of SWRC’s newest tool – the FollowIt app, a groundbreaking tool designed to aid survivors in documenting stalking incidents and gathering evidence. The app is free and available to use for women 18 years and over living in Scotland and can be found on the Android and iOS app stores. You can visit www.followitapp.org.uk to find out more.

Both Hannah Fergusson and Rebecca Coltart, members of the SWRC network led impactful talks. Rebecca, a solicitor at Macnabs and an integral member of the pro-bono network, highlighted the importance of developing client communication skills in order to better aid survivors. Empathy, effective communication, and active listening were the key tools she drew attention to that can fundamentally impact the experience of survivors in recieving support. Hannah, a solicitor at Brodies shared her story from law student to legal practicitioner, discussing the challenges of family law but the immense reward that comes with her work.

Our hosts, two committed student advisors, Amy and Hannah, introduced a testimonials video from past and present student volunteers if the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre, reflecting on their experience, and learnings so far.

The Right Honourable Lady Sarah Wolffe KC also made a special appearance at the event, reflecting on her illustrious career, how the legal field has developed and her own experiences as a woman in the law. This follows on from a talk Lady Wolffe gave to first-year law students earlier in the year, in which she shared anecdotes of motherhood, family life and issues which were highly impactful when she first worked in the courst but may seem trivial today; such as what should women wear to court? Lady Wolffe is a Professor of practice at the University of Strathclyde and was the first woman appointed as a commercial judge in the Court of Session.

“It really struck me in listening to the experiences of these incredible women, how far we have come and sadly how far we still have to go.”

An event attendee

The reflections from all speakers highlighted one key theme this International Women’s Day, progress has been made but women still face severe challenges that require systemic change. In 2024, it is time to #InvestinHER.

IWD 2024: ‘Reflecting on a trail of milestones’

by Corey Beaton (EDI Officer)

When we consider the gender balance of our lecture halls, it is hard to imagine a time when women were not permitted to study the law, nor indeed to go on and practice it, yet it has only been just over a century since Parliament removed the legal barriers to a woman’s ability to practice through the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919.

Prior to this, though, the courts upheld the rule that a woman was not entitled to practice, not on the basis of her qualifications nor aptitude, but solely of her gender. The case of Hall v Incorporated Society of Law-Agents (1901) 3 F 1059, which challenged the wording and intention of the Law Agents Act 1873 through statutory interpretation, is but one of innumerable examples of this practice. Here, with no explicit inclusion or exclusion of women in the 1873 Act, and in spite of the fact that only men had been admitted as lawyers, the court ruled that a woman was not a ‘person’ for the purposes of the Act.

What we thankfully see nowadays is the polar opposite of what we would expect to see if we were to walk the halls of an early twentieth century university, or indeed a law firm or court building. In Scotland, both our Law Officers are women, the second-most senior judge of the Court of Session is a woman, two-thirds of law students are women, 70% of legal trainees are women, and perhaps a bit closer to home, all of the Law Clinic’s staff and student directors are women.

It is a reasonable assumption that none of these women would say that it has been an easy process for them to attain the positions they now hold. Who would, when we consider the societal and institutional barriers which women continue to face in our profession?

While almost 60% of our profession consists of female lawyers, only one large-scale Scottish law firm has a majority of female partners. At a societal level, figures continue to suggest that one in three women will experience a sexual assault in their lifetime. In the wake of newly-released data which indicates an uptick in sexual crime in the past year – that is to say, those crimes which have been reported – this ratio is only likely to increase unless something meaningful is done about it.

In response, what we are now seeing in the Scottish Parliament is a debate over a long-awaited Bill which is designed to return to victim-survivors of sexual offences the agency which many have long since lost following their assaults, the ability to effectively represent themselves in section 275 hearings, and the empowerment to give their best evidence in court with the support of various vital special measures.

Only today did we learn that victim-survivors will soon be able to access a copy of their court transcripts from their rape trials for free. One campaigner for this change shared her experiences of having to crowdfund to pay for access to her transcript in order to combat an appeal lodged by her convicted rapist against his sentence.

We can no longer look at the experiences and treatment of women at the hand of the law in a vacuum; only by recognising and acting to defeat the intersectional, institutional barriers which women and girls across Scotland face can we truly take meaningful strides towards an equitable and just society which no longer puts walls up against a woman’s ability to thrive, but instead breaks them down.

We are, after all, a nation of firsts: the first practicing lawyer as Madge Easton Anderson was, the first woman called to the Scottish Bar as Margaret Kidd KC was, the first woman appointed as a Senator of the College of Justice as the Rt Hon Lady Cosgrove CBE was, and the first woman appointed as Solicitor General and Lord Advocate as Dame Elish Angiolini KC was. Our legal system is peppered with women who overcame the odds which were stacked against them to rise to the positions they all held.

As Lady Cosgrove once said in a speech to law students at Strathclyde,

“The public must have confidence that its legal system is representative of and has the ability to respond to and deal with the needs and problems of all of its citizens. A profession which is not truly representative of all of its citizens cannot enjoy that confidence. The increasing presence of women in the profession will, I believe, be a positive force.”

Lady Cosgrove

You know as well as I do that Her Ladyship’s words are truer now more than ever. The law is certainly not short of female role models, and I would encourage any woman reading this to remember the role they can play as someone else’s role model.

January Newsletter

Recent News

Climate Discussion

Prof Francesco Sindico visited the Law Clinic to talk with our students about his work and to discuss ideas for our environmental justice project. Prof Sindico is a Professor of International environemntal Law at Strathclyde, and works on a number of innovative projects in environmental law; he is the director of the Climate Change Legal Intitiative, the Co-chair of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law, and is the Co-chair of the International Water Resources Association.

His knowledge and experience proved highly useful for those who attended, giving greater insight to his work and how Law Clinic can contribute. He talked about his work with the Scottish Government, in particular the Islands, Nature and Renewable Energy Project, where he helps islands work towards becoming carbon neutral.

“Dr Sindico gave an inspiring discussion on his work on behalf of the Scottish government and his work in the International Court of Justice”

Alison Duncan

Clinic Merch

We are thrilled to announce that the Law Clinic has extended our branding to include an array of stylish merchandise! Our office team has done an excellent job of modelling the new designs. These include a ¼ zip fleece, t-shirt, hat, tote bag and hoodies. There is something for everyone!

Our orders are in and we look forward to seeing our students and staff sporting their new purchases around Glasgow.

Training

January has proven to be an exceptionally busy month of training featuring housing, employment advocacy and introductory training for those partaking in the MOJO project. Thanks so much to Jasleen and Anna from the training team for putting these together and all involved in taking the sessions.

Employment Advocacy Training with Weightmans – by Anna Gren

The Law Clinic recently hosted solicitors from Weightmans, Erin Moncur, Morag Dalziel, Paman Singh and Zoe Kerr to provide Employment Tribunal Advocacy training. A large majority of the cases the clinic deal with are employment related, and so this training provided a great insight into how the tribunal operates and how to effectively advocate for your client.

The session covered all aspect of tribunal advocacy, from examination-in-chief to cross-examination and finally re-examination. It was beneficial to hear the types of questions you would ask in each situation and we even got to give it a go ourselves!

As I’m sure everyone who attended will agree, the training was a great, interactive session that will definitely be useful to advisors attending hearings in the future. A huge thank you to everyone involved!

Miscarriage of Justice Organisation Training – by Rowan Brockie

The Miscarriages of Justice Organisation has recently recruited student advisors from the Strathclyde law clinic to join its volunteer ranks as part of our Criminal Justice Project. Our advisors have spent the last three weeks completing three six-hour training sessions putting in 18 total hours to be qualified as caseworkers.

The fantastic sessions led by Euan McIlvride covered MOJO as a victim support organisation, the process of appeals within the criminal justice system, looking over past cases and the role of MOJO within assisting innocent people who have been wrongfully convicted. Since spending their month learning about the organisation, our student advisors have now begun to take on their own case applications.

Upcoming Training:

Case Surgery – No topic Session – Wednesday 21st February 2024 12:00-13:00

Simple Procedure Training with Patrick Campbell Corcoran – Wednesday 28th February 2024 14:00-16:00

Case Surgery – Ethics – how to manage when personal ethics challenged by client/case – Wednesday 6th March – 12:00-13:00

SSSC Training with Laura Russel – Wednesday 6th March 2024 14:00-16:00

Imposter Syndrome Session with John Stringer – Wednesday 13th March 2024 14:00-16:00

Case Surgery – Conflict of Interest- how to identify and manage – Wednesday 20th March 2024 12:00-13:00

Case Updates

January has been a month full of successes for our clients and student advisors.

SSSC Actions:

  • Our student represented one of our clients in a SSSC Case Management discussion in preparation for an impairment hearing
  • Students successfully defended a SSSC action for a client, allowing her to clear her name.

Discrimination Cases:

  • Student advisors recently settled a disability discrimination case that was due to call at the employment tribunal.
  • Students representing a claimaint in the Employment Tribunal submitted further documentation relating to a disability discrimination claim.
  • Student representing a client settled a sex discrimination claim at Judicial Mediation.

Other:

  • Progress was made in a new Simple Procedure Claim where there has been difficulty serving the claim.

Advisor & Alumni News

Our student advisors from past and present have been exceptionally busy this month, from running marathons to being nominated for awards. Huge congratulations to all those mentioned for your great successes.

Paige Alexander and Laura Nicol – two of our fantastic student directors have recently signed up for the Lisbon Marathon in October and have been competing in running events. Laura has just completed her first solo running event, a 10k in Edinburgh and achieved a personal best! Paige also ran her first-ever half-marathon event over the weekend in Glasgow Green! If you want to follow along with their running journey, check out their Instagram @laura_n_p_run.

Eva Ralston – One of our student advisors and members of the prisons project has been nominated for the Kat Lindner Award for Outstanding Academic and Athletic Achievement at the Scottish Women’s Football Awards! This award recognises female footballers who excel both on and off the pitch, and it is in memory of Kat, who was both an academic and a footballer in Glasgow. Eva plays for Stenhousemuir Women in Scottish League One, and her team is challenging for promotion this season.

“It was a complete surprise and a very pleasant one at that, as I was nominated alongside some incredible professional players who also have a career outside of the game… it is quite intense alongside my final year, but it offers a great escape from level 1 of the library!”

Eva Ralston

Her incredible successes have led to recognition by the PLZ women’s football show! Check out the link to view her full interview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RfV06s0Gqg.

Initial Advice Clinic – Volunteer Solicitors Needed!

We are still recruiting for qualified solicitors who are interested in volunteering at our IACs which are currently held once a fortnight, on Wednesday Evenings.

What are IACs?

Our IACs are our drop-in legal surgeries which are held as an alternative to our main casework stream. Appointments are scheduled with a team consisting of one solicitor and one student, with the expectation that during the 30 minute appointment slot, the student will work the client through a triage form, before the solicitor gives advice to the client. Appointments can be held both in-person and via zoom.

What practice areas do you cover?

As with all of our casework, the most common issues we deal with are employment, housing, consumer and SSSC. There are usually several solicitors on duty and our IAC team will strive to ensure cases are allocated to solicitors which have the most relevant experience.

We are in particular need of solicitors specialising in Housing Law, Commercial Law or those that can offer general advice on a wide range of areas.

How do I get involved?

If you are interested in getting involved, or would like more information, please contact our Depute IAC Student Co-ordinator: lauren.weetman.2021@uni.strath.ac.uk

Please send details of your employment history (a CV would be great) and we will then get in touch to discuss further.

Employment Advocacy Training with Weightmans

In January, we welcomed a team from Weightmans to provide training on Employment Tribunal advocacy. Paman Singh and his colleagues, Morag Dalziel, Erin Moncur and Zoe Kerr, put together a highly interactive session where they shared their knowledge and expertise. Our student advisors were also given the opportunity to practice examination-in-chief and cross-examination.

The Weightman’s team shared many top tips on best representing clients in tribunals and presenting the advisors with the challenging task of preparing to examine a witness in 15 minutes!

At Strathclyde Law Clinic, a large proportion of our cases revolve around employment law, and our student advisors often represent clients at tribunals during their time at the clinic. Training opportunities such as this are highly beneficial for our student advisors to hone their skills in advocacy to better represent our clients, helping us achieve our goal of improving access to justice.

“As I’m sure everyone who attended will agree, the training was a great, interactive session that will definitely be useful to advisors attending hearings in the future. A huge thank you to everyone involved!”

Anna Gren

December Newsletter

The Asylum Project Success

Public Legal Education

Our TAP Team recently carried out their first PLE session to a community group in the North of Glasgow. This has been a long time in the making, with lots of hard work, research and preparation going in to the session.

Asylum Status

This month we heard news of 3 of our TAP clients being granted status. Two of these cases have run since 2018, with numerous advisors working on them in the 5 years since we took them on. This is a great result for our clients…

Case Work

We recently represented in a Housing Tribunal case where the students Scott and Jasleen were successful in obtaining a wrongful termination order and an award of £2,000 for their client.

Alumni News

Of the seven new Solicitor Advocates appointed by the Law Society this year, three are Clinic Alumni: Paman Singh, Jillian Merchant and Patrick Campbell Corcoran. Congratulations to each of them for this achievement, and thank you for your contribution to the law clinic!

You can read more about the appointment below:

https://www.scottishlegal.com/articles/new-solicitor-advocates-welcomed-in-30th-anniversary-year

Festive Period

In addition to all the hard work out advisors have been putting in throughout December, between clinic work and exams, we have also managed to fit in some fun! We hosted a Christmas Tree decorating social at the end of November, and rounded off the year with a Christmas Office Party and Quiz!