The expansion of The City Law School’s flagship, award-winning City Community Legal Advice Centre continues
By Chris Lines (Senior Communications Officer), Published
City, University of London is delighted to announce a range of new partnerships as part of its City Community Legal Advice Centre (CityCLAC).
Firstly, a new pro bono partnership with Hodge Jones and Allen (HJA) will provide a personal injury advice clinic within CityCLAC.
Daniel Denton [pictured, right], a Partner in the Serious Injury Team at HJA, has worked in the field for over 20 years, advising claimants on accidents at work and in public places, road traffic accidents, and defective product claims.
He has a wealth of experience in handling cases where the client has suffered life-changing injuries. In particular, Daniel has a special interest in amputation cases, brain/head injuries, and serious orthopaedic and psychiatric conditions. He also has a vast amount of experience in representing bereaved families and friends who have lost a loved one through negligence. Clients can approach the service by filling in an online enquiry form.
Daniel said:
“I am delighted that HJA are partnering with the City Community Legal Advice Service who share our strong ethos of providing access to justice to members of the public.
“The clinic allows the member of the public to obtain 30 minutes free legal advice on any personal injury matter. I am particularly excited to be working with the City, University of London students and sharing my knowledge and experience with them.”
Following an award-winning first year, The City Law School is supporting the further development of the CityCLAC service by employing another experienced criminal solicitor, Tejal-Roma Williams [pictured, left], to supervise our law students in their pro bono work, alongside setting up a new innocence project within the service.
CityCLAC Director Sally Gill said:
“We are excited to welcome Tejal and grow the pro bono offering within The City Law School. Tejal has a wealth of experience to share with our students.”
Tejal said:
“I am looking forward to contributing to a service which gives students an opportunity to experience law in action, understand the barriers many people face in accessing justice, develop legal practice skills, build networks within the legal profession, and improve their employability prospects.”
The City Law School is also excited to announce the development of a partnership of corporate law firms to provide a Housing Disrepair Service. So far, Taylor Wessing and Baker McKenzie have joined CityCLAC in this initiative. There was a real call to arms following the tragic death of Awaab Ishak, the two-year-old boy who died from exposure to mould in his home. The service opened in May 2023, led by Visiting Lecturer and Supervising Solicitor, John Mahoney.
John said:
“I am happy that we are able to assist the community to access their legal rights around housing disrepair. This is such an important area of law and our service makes a big difference to the lives of Londoners living in social housing.”
City is also opening an immigration advice service: CityCLAC’s Welcome Project. This project will provide clients with initial advice on immigration rights, including securing and maintaining permission to enter and remain in the country, verifying client’s immigration status and providing guidance on applications for recourse to public funds. It will also provide referrals and signposting to other suitable services.
CityCLAC’s work will continue to be closely connected to its partner referral networks, including One Westminster, and On Your Doorstep, as well as Mental Health services and GP alliances.
Sally Gill said:
“Our clients consistently rate our service 5 out of 5, and City’s students have benefitted from the work they do through their successful steps into the profession or graduate employment.
“In the service, everyone is a winner. At CityCLAC, we are all about community: The City Law School staff and student community coming together with the legal profession to provide more opportunities for Londoners to access their legal rights in a time of austerity.”
