SCOTTISH UNIVERSITIES LAW CLINIC NETWORK LAUNCHED

A new national forum which will “encourage the establishment of new law clinics” will be launched today at a pro bono conference hosted by the University of the West of Scotland.

The Scottish Universities Law Clinic Network (SULCN), to be formally launched with an address by former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini QC, is an initiative co-founded by Hannah Cosgrove, Ryan Whelan and Eamon Keane, each of whom have been active in advancing pro bono work at the Universities of Strathclyde, Aberdeen and Dundee respectively.

Professor Donald Nicolson OBE, director of the University of Strathclyde’s Law Clinic, is hugely enthusiastic of the initiative and its potential.

He said: “It is gratifying to experience the launch of a network of five university law clinics and to know that it will do everything to encourage the establishment of new clinics and the expansion of existing clinics.

“Having been involved in three student law clinics, I do not think it is possible to overestimate the enthusiasm, drive and commitment of law students to helping those less privileged than themselves.

“I am thrilled that an organisation exists which will help ensure that we harness the potential that they offer to make a significant contribution to ending unmet legal need in Scotland and I look forward to SULCN becoming a major player in the access to justice world."

As an organisation, SULCN will seek to bring together law students from all of Scotland's Universities so that they may collaborate and work together in strengthening pro bono legal provision and access to justice across the country.

Eamon Keane added: "We hope that this network will prove to transcend regional boundaries and become a truly national forum where students and staff from across all our universities can share their knowledge and resources, with the aim of making a real difference to both legal education and access to legal advice and representation."

Since its inception, SULCN has gained the support of all of Scotland's current law clinics, namely those at the Universities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Strathclyde and West of Scotland.

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