Law in real life (Law IRL)

The City Law School has a long history of involvement with pro bono activities dating back 20 years to when we were based in the Inns of Court.

Pro Bono Publico is a Latin term which means “for the public good”. In plain English it translates as the contemporary term “Law IRL.”

View our Law IRL poster.

Follow the Law IRL group on LinkedIn.

We provide our students with the opportunity to experience the law beyond the classroom whilst widening access to justice and the legal profession. We offer City Law School students many opportunities to obtain experience to benefit their future career pathways. These broadly fall into the following categories:

Experience law beyond the classroom

By undertaking these activities students will enhance their CV, whilst gaining valuable skills to take into their future legal career. The experiences will help develop competencies for entry into the legal profession or graduate employment.

The Director of the City Community Legal Advice Centre (CityCLAC) has put in place a wide range of activities open to students at each stage of their studies with The City Law School. This ‘ladder’ of opportunities will develop the experience needed to improve your employability, and effectively prepare students to start building a career in the law or other graduate employment.

What our students say

CityCLAC was fantastically helpful. It really gave me an idea of what I'd be doing in the future and what I'd enjoy, and was a very useful talking point at interview! I'd recommend it to anybody.

I just wanted to thank you for what you have achieved, it’s honestly such an amazing opportunity which sets students up for future success. I have been accepted to study the LLM LPC part-time weekends and have received a job offer from a mid-sized law firm after a successful interview regarding a legal internship.

If all goes well I will work as a paralegal then as a trainee. Keep up the amazing work! You have helped so many students already and we are thankful for you.

From year 1 of the LLB course, students are offered the opportunity to attend court visits to observe hearings, volunteer for placements where they will develop their skills, and observe an advice session in the Community Legal Advice Centre, where they have the privilege of observing qualified lawyers providing legal advice to real clients.

As a student progresses with their studies additional opportunities become available, for example becoming a Student Adviser in the City Community Legal Advice Centre, or volunteering with a City Law School pro bono project such as the Schools Exclusion Project or the Company Insolvency Pro Bono Scheme.

Widening access to justice and the legal profession

The LawIRL Director, an experienced solicitor, and the Centre Coordinator, work hard to source new and interesting placements every year. Current opportunities are advertised on our Moodle page accessible to current students, at the start of each term. Advice is always on hand if students want to volunteer closer to home, rather than in and around The City Law School.

An active annual programme of court visits and mock trials are arranged for students to get a feel for court etiquette, and witness advocacy in real life. Participating in mock trials helps develop our students’ confidence, teamwork and advocacy skills in a safe environment. Mock trials are a really valuable and fun activity to take part in.

Message from Director Sally Gill

Welcome to LawIRL which has been specifically created with law students in mind. With over 20 years’ experience of working in Law Schools leading on pro bono initiatives,
I know what a difference it can make to graduate outcomes.

By choosing activities from our ladder of opportunities through the LawIRL programme we hope that you gain valuable skills to take into your future professional careers. I look forward to welcoming you.

Our partners

As a service we love partnering with law firms, not for profits and individual lawyers committed to providing access to justice for the public, to attempt to redress the balance of the legal aid cuts.

We work with a number of esteemed partners in the provision of legal advice and services. We are proud of our partnerships, and extend out thanks to the many lawyers who volunteer their time to help us widen access to justice and access to the profession.

We also have partnerships with the not-for-profit sector where we send students to volunteer, helping provide much needed services to members of the local City community and wider community of London.

If you are interested in partnering up with the LawIRL at the City Law School please get in touch with Sally Gill the Director of the LawIRL and City Community Legal Advice Centre.

Contact us

• Sally Gill

  Director of the City Legal Advice Centre and Law IRL

  sally.gill@city.ac.uk

  The City Legal Advice Centre and Law IRL City Law School Building Ground Floor, TG12
  Sebastian Street London EC1V 0HB United Kingdom