NHS healthcare scheme welcomes record number of students

A record number of law students have begun work experience with one of Cardiff’s most high-profile law firms this week.

80 Law students have signed up to work on our NHS Continuing Healthcare Scheme, a pro bono opportunity devised and delivered by Hugh James, a top 100 UK law firm offering specialist legal and financial advice.

The School has worked closely with the law firm for the last 19 years with this being the largest cohort of the scheme to date.

The scheme addresses the issues that have arisen as a result of an ageing population and the rise in dementia, a major health problem in the UK. Many families face significant economic costs and consequences if a loved one is required to live in a care home. This scheme sees students learn directly from Hugh James by studying dummy case files where families were wrongfully charged care home fees.

The aim of the scheme is to show how legal guidance can provide a huge financial and emotional benefit to people enduring difficult and stressful circumstances.

The students will be working on the dummy files with mentors from Hugh James until March and it is hoped that the experience gained will help them stand apart from their peers in a competitive job market, post university.

Hannah Marchant, who leads the Pro Bono scheme within the school said, “We’re hugely grateful to Hugh James’ Nursing Care team, and to partner Lisa Morgan and Associate Katie Morgan in particular, for their continued willingness to provide crucial employability and pro bono opportunities to our students. They are extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic and passionate about their work, and are a source of inspiration for our students.  Students are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to learn about this very important and niche area of law.”

Lisa Morgan, Partner and Head of the Nursing Care team at Hugh James said, “I am incredibly proud to support this scheme. The partnership between the school and the firm provides students with real experience working with clients and developing key practitioner skills, while also allowing us to engage with the next generation of lawyers. One of the most rewarding aspects is seeing former pro bono students join the profession and forge successful careers – both within Hugh James and beyond. I’m excited to meet this year’s cohort of students, which will be our biggest yet.”

The School of Law and Politics also works with Hugh James to offer paralegal placement opportunities which Cardiff law students can apply for in their second year. During their placements our students develop key practitioner skills such as case management, legal research and legal writing in addition to generic employability skills such as time management, team working and commercial awareness.