Academic
The City Law School and the University's Centre for Career and Skills Development (CCSD) work together to promote opportunities for students on academic law programmes to volunteer to work with one of our Pro Bono volunteering organisations that need legal assistance. The School supports a Student Pro Bono Group for students on academic programmes. Pro Bono is an opportunity for students to enhance their CV by demonstrating the skills they have used in practice.
Pro Bono Activities for academic law programmes at City
Academic law students at City will have the opportunity to work with a number of different organisations. The CCSD maintains contact with a number of volunteering organisations through which you may obtain volunteering opportunities. The CCSD will give you the opportunity to select the organisation that best suits your skills, interests and professional objectives and be involved in interviewing clients, case work and legal research.
How to Volunteer
When you're a student at The City Law School you can drop in to the CCSD and find out how you can volunteer by consulting the Law Volunteering File. The File details the volunteering organisations linked to City University London and contains information on how to volunteer.
In addition, you can make a 45 minute appointment to talk about volunteering and drafting of CVs and cover letters with a Careers Advisor at the CCSD.
Pro Bono Advice
Any City Law School student interested in volunteering for pro bono activities can volunteer at the Centre for Career and Skills Development.
CV Drop In
If you want help with drafting a CV or cover letter you receive one-to-one advice at the Centre for Career and Skills Development.
The Student Pro Bono Group
Each year The City Law School recruits student representatives from its academic programmes to sit on the Student Pro Bono Group. The Group is responsible for assisting the School in delivering a dynamic extra-curricular programme of activities for law students during the academic stage of their training.
Why have a Student Pro Bono Group?
The Student Pro Bono Group assists the University in finding appropriate volunteering opportunities and projects that introduce students to an area of law they may wish to practice in. The group:
- Assists students in developing transferable skills sought after by employers.
- Creates a forum for extra-curricular participation of current students and the continuing involvement of alumni in City Law School activities.
- Helps the University to become more engaged with the local community.
How does the Group work?
Group members meet once a month with staff from the School and the Centre for Career and Skills Development to plan and implement a programme of extra-curricular activities for law students.
The activities are centred around encouraging students to volunteer their time to assist the local community. Activities have been selected because they are both law related and also assist students in developing transferable skills which will help them in their careers.
Group members are charged with the responsibilty of ensuring that students within their course know about the planned activities and are encouraged to take part. Group members also play an advisory role in the strategic development of law-related projects running at City.
The Group is not a club or a society, it is an advisory group consisting of elected course representatives and members of staff from The City Law School and the Centre for Career and Skills Development.
Pro Bono Evening
The City Law School and the CCSD host a Pro Bono Evening each year, normally in late October. Outside speakers are invited and the student Pro Bono Prize for the previous year is awarded.