Advising the Community

Legal Advice Clinic

The University's on-campus Legal Advice Clinic is a free public drop-in service, staffed by law students working under the supervision of practising solicitors.

Based in dedicated and refurbished premises at Clarence Centre, the Clinic provides:

• Basic information on any topic
• Generalist advice in any social welfare law matters (except immigration) including family, housing, employment, welfare rights, consumer, small claims and disputed debts
• Specialist legal advice in family and housing at Thursday evening sessions (accessible via an initial assessment at our daytime drop-in)

Over 3500 people have used the clinic, helping to meet an overwhelming demand for high quality social welfare law advice in the local area. Approximately 60% of the time the LAC is able to solve the clients' queries instantly with the resolution rate rising to approximately 90% after meeting with the client a second time.

Further details about the Legal Advice Clinic including opening times are available here.

Business Solutions Centre

The University’s Business Solutions Centre enables local businesses to benefit from free advice and guidance on subjects ranging from accounting to IT to social media from student advisers supervised by LSBU staff. All advisors receive training to develop their entrepreneurial mind-set, communications skills and commercial awareness.

Typical business challenges include:

• How can I use social media to support business growth?
• How can I write a business plan?
• How can I evaluate the cost and benefit of new premises, or a new employee?
• How can I seek potential funding or resources?
• How can I market my business on a low marketing budget?

In June 2018 the Business Solutions Centre won the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IOEE) annual award for Enterprising Learning Provider of the Year 2018. Further details about the Business Solutions Centre, including opening times are available here.

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