Pro Bono at York Law Society

Opportunities this coming year:

Freedom Law Clinic

The Freedom Law Clinic 6 week programme offers students with pro bono experiences and Clinical Legal Education. Through this programme, students will have a unique and unparalelled access to criminal appeal cases, providing vital assistance to clients who lack the means to afford legal representation and may otherwise be denied access to justice.

Law Students for Climate Accountability

In the forthcoming year, we are excited to partner with the Law Students For Climate Accountability organisation. This student-led organisation is dedicated to holding major law firms accountable for their impact on climate change.

This collaboration marks an important movement of our society’s intention to become more sustainable in our activities. As part of our vision, we intend to increase our ESG practices and sustainability initiatives.

Together with Law Students For Climate Accountability and our knowledgeable pro-bono officer, we hope to organise on campus events, which will serve as a platform for education opportunities, volunteering work and fundraising campaigns. The resources provided by these events will raise awareness about climate change, sustainability and how this intersects with the legal industry. We will actively promote this initiative across our social media pages to ensure maximum participation amongst our members and contribution towards positive environmental outcomes.

The Pledge

We want to warmly invite all law firms to sign the pledge to Law Students For Climate Accountability. This will welcome firms engage with our campaign and the York Law Society’s partnership.

By signing the pledge, law firms will demonstrate a commitment to taking concrete action to address climate change concerns and actively participating in sustainability initiatives.

If you are interested, you can sign the pledge here and stay informed about the latest developments.

Citizens Advice York

Citizens Advice York exists as an independent branch of Citizens Advice, functioning as a separate charity within the city of York. Its funding derives from a diverse range of sources including the support of York City Council, council wards, The Lottery, local businesses, private donations, fundraising events, and contributions from other local charitable organisations. This diverse funding model ensures the sustainability of their operations and enables them to provide essential services and support to the residents of York

The organisation provides a comprehensive range of service to assist people with legal problems, and campaigning on social justice issues. Furthermore, they offer confidential and impartial advice on issues including debt management, welfare benefits, employment, housing and discrimination. Additionally, they can also offer practical support such as assisting with complex benefits application forms, aiding in the appeals process, drafting letters and negotiating with third parties such as landlords or creditors. Their services are also accessible through drop-in sessions in Central York, as well as through telephone, webchat, and neighbourhood outreach sessions. Citizens Advice York is committed to empowering individuals by providing valuable guidance and assistance across a wide spectrum of legal and social issues.

This year we are excited to continue our collaboration work with Citizens Advice York to establish a new student intake. Volunteering with Citizens Advice offers diverse opportunities, allowing you engage in both general and specialist roles, ranging from the advice line to eventually receiving bespoke training that will enhance your credentials and appeal on any application. The volunteering experience is flexible and customisable, enabling volunteers to seamlessly balance with their studies. We also plan to host charity events to support their funding. We will continue to update our socials and inform on how you are able to get involved.

Sequentus Opportunity

We are proud to announce our Sequentus Training Opportunity! This fantastic opportunity allows York Students to engage with pro-bono cases and criminal defence work by actively assisting clients with wrongful conviction applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).

You can find more information out below and on this PDF Link.

Duration: Participants work on a single client case for six weeks, engaging remotely through digital tools.

Number of students: Even though we would love for everyone who applied to be part of Sequentus, we have a limit of 10 students.

Organization: Sequentus offers a pro bono project that provides students unprecedented access to criminal defense work.

Objective: The project actively assists clients in submitting wrongful conviction applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), emphasizing the fundamental right to a fair trial.

Differentiation: Unlike other projects, the focus is not solely on innocence or guilt but on ensuring that clients, with fresh evidence or new legal arguments, can present their strongest case.

Approach: Participants are encouraged to take the initiative, conduct independent legal research, examine evidence, and develop technical knowledge under the supervision of an experienced criminal law solicitor.

Responsibilities: Tasks include contacting experts, writing legal arguments, and drafting requests for advice from counsel.

Access to Information: Participants have access to comprehensive case papers, including Crown Court transcripts, forensic evidence, telecommunications data, and witness statements, offering insight into original defence and appeal strategies.

Case Complexity: Many cases involve severe crimes like murder or multi-handed drug conspiracies, allowing participants to develop in-depth knowledge of complex legal issues, such as joint enterprise.

Professional Development: In-depth working knowledge gained through the program proves invaluable for participants during interviews with law firms or chambers.

Learning Format: The program includes concise online lectures on legal points, regular video calls for supervision, and updates with the casework team and supervising solicitor.

Practical Experience: The hands-on nature of the project provides participants with practical experience, enhancing their understanding of criminal defense processes and legal intricacies.

Price: TBC

How to apply: More Information in due course

Applications will open on TBC and close on TBC.

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