Expert blog: A model for legal education in challenging times for access to justice

The UK's legal aid system has reached a crisis point, with charities struggling to fill the gap due to their own financial and resource pressures. This situation leaves the poorest, most disadvantaged individuals, who often have multiple and complex problems, without the legal help they need.

In Nottinghamshire, NLS Legal plays a crucial role in legal education and training and in supporting the local community by providing pro bono legal services, as highlighted in my recent research.

A subsidiary of Nottingham Trent University, NLS Legal is the only Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) regulated law firm in the UK with an on-campus teaching law firm model, fully integrated into a law school. It provides Nottingham Law School (NLS) students with opportunities to develop skills and gain exposure to access to justice work.

My study surveyed NLS Legal clients, students, and staff to measure the effectiveness and impact of NLS Legal on student development, employability, client outcomes, and improving access to justice for the local community.

There are three key areas to the findings:

1. Student Development and Employability:
   • NLS Legal has a transformational effect on students' personal and professional development, attainment, and employability prospects.
   • Students reported a heightened awareness of the importance of access to justice and the value of pro bono work within society.
   • There is evidence suggesting that involvement with NLS Legal positively impacts students' overall grades, with a higher percentage of NLS Legal students achieving a 2.1 or first-class degree compared to the general student cohort.
2. Client Experience:
   • Clients indicated reduced stress levels and increased hope due to the advice provided by NLS Legal.
   • The signposting approach used by NLS Legal is crucial in helping clients access assistance and provides essential information to those who may not seek legal support, through trusted intermediaries such as health or social workers.
3. Community Impact:
   • NLS Legal help trusted intermediaries support their clients, reaching individuals who might otherwise not access legal help.
   • The commitment, passion, and compassion of NLS Legal towards its clients are evident.
   • NLS Legal secured £995,240 in compensation, settlements, and benefits for clients in 2021-2022, bringing the cumulative total to £6.2 million by 2022-2023.
   • This research confirms that NLS Legal's work is important, innovative, and has a demonstrable positive impact. Exposing law students to practical experience in access to justice services is a model for legal education across the UK, and worldwide.

NLS Legal's approach highlights the benefit of early legal intervention and holistic legal support which could inform how the government and regulators could improve access to justice nationwide. Nottingham Trent University's support for its students and the community via NLS Legal is commendable.

That said, this sector-leading model cannot, and should not, replace sustainable state-led access to justice programs. NLS Legal has delivered clear benefits for many disadvantaged groups in Nottinghamshire, but access to justice remains a countrywide issue.

Government should ensure taxpayer revenue is used effectively to improve community members' lives through access to justice, with the NLS Legal model serving as a prime example.

Dr Liz Curran, Associate Professor of Clinical Legal Education, Nottingham Law School

Knowledge Really is Power: NLS Legal Research and Impact Evaluation Report - Measuring the effectiveness and impact of NLS Legal in improving access to justice, key social development goals, and its role in student and staff development. Read the full report.