Pro bono schemes

Led by David Keane, Placements Manager

Working with Age Cymru and the HOPE partnership (Helping Others Participate and Engage) this scheme provides low-level advocacy support to older people and their carers.

As part of this voluntary role, students support older people or their carers to understand their rights, make informed choices, give them a voice and, ultimately, empower them to advocate for themselves. The charity’s Independent Volunteer Advocates support older people with any range of low-level advocacy issues – from helping them to place formal complaints to supporting them in finding sheltered accommodation that’s right for them – no two cases are the same. Students are trained in the advocacy role and skills needed and have support from a supervisor throughout their casework. Students build relationships with clients, build action plans collaboratively, record case notes and liaise with third-party organisations.

The Arts Partnership (TAP)

Led by Dr Barbara Hughes-Moore

This scheme is a partnership between the School of Law and Politics and a number of theatres/arts-based organisations that have included Sherman Theatre, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Company of Sirens, Hijinx, and Omidaze/The Democracy Box. It is also supported by Get the Chance and Tempo Time Credits.

As a member of The Arts Partnership (TAP), students may learn about how the law works in action, specifically in the arts sector. Students undertake a professional placement with one of our partner organisations, shadowing industry leaders and developing employability skills in writing, presenting, and collaborative working.

Interactive and practical, the nature of the placements will vary and may include conducting legal research, drafting policy documents, community outreach, and developing creative projects and workshops on law and the arts.

This informal work experience opportunity will enable students to broaden their perspective of what ‘law’ is and how it operates in the real world.  In volunteering in the scheme, it is hoped that students will cultivate a professional network that will extend throughout and beyond their degree.

TAP is underpinned by our Law and Literature teaching, a third-year optional module which helps students become better readers, stronger writers, and confident communicators. Students can elect to take the module and the pro bono scheme separately, or together.

Cardiff University Law Clinic

Led by Krista Robinson

Taking place in Cardiff’s Civil Justice Centre, the Cardiff University Law Clinic sees law students advise members of the public in need of legal advice. Under the supervision of a specialist solicitor, their advice will focus on housing cases, such as possession proceedings, disrepair, occupation contracts and notices seeking possession. It will also assist those seeking advice in family matters, such as divorce and child arrangements.

Appointments for the clinic will be arranged through Support Through the Court and advice will be given in writing following the initial appointment. This pro bono scheme will give students practical experience of interviewing, researching and legal writing. They will learn key skills such as establishing rapport with the client, asking appropriate questions to obtain a full picture of the case, active listening, maintaining an accurate record and writing clearly.

Led by Julie Price and Hannah Marchant

Negotiation is part of our everyday lives, and key skills can be learned, which are useful for any future career.

This programme is linked to the (inter)national Negotiation Competition, which in the UK is sponsored by the Centre for Dispute Resolution (CEDR) in London. We use our training programme to select two teams of students who represent the School of Law and Politics in the regional rounds of the England and Wales competition, potentially progressing to the national final in London.

Led by David Keane, Placements Manager

Child Contact Centres help children and parents by providing a safe, comfortable, neutral environment away from high-conflict situations, so that children can see their parent who does not live with them, or other close family members, such as grandparents.

Child Contact Centres provide our students with the opportunity to volunteer in centres where they can develop understanding and knowledge of Family Law, and the current legal system for families in the UK.

Employment Law Streetlaw

The Environment Project

Led by Guy Linley-Adams

Pro bono environmental law activities have taken several forms over recent years, due to unforeseen circumstances (the Covid pandemic) and in response to world events such as COP 26 in Glasgow.

Dedicated students have looked at the law on climate change and how that impacts on, among other issues, transport, agriculture, waste and biodiversity in Wales. Our Environment Project is now focusing on the legal right to information on the environment, which is an important tool for holding public bodies to account on protecting the environment.

This project is led by environmental lawyer Guy Linley-Adams. Over the years, Guy, who took his LPC at Cardiff, has acted for different environment and conservation organisations. He has taken many common law and statutory actions against water companies and other polluters, as well as judicial reviews of public bodies. Guy has a special interest in freedom of information law.

Led by Jason Tucker

Legal aid is generally not available for private law cases involving children. This means that, when there is a family breakdown, parents either have to pay for legal advice privately, or represent themselves (as litigants in person).

Navigating the court process can be very daunting, particularly when you have no experience of legal proceedings. The FLASH clinic is a public legal education project, where students provide members of the public with information to enable them to better understand and deal with court proceedings relating to disputes about the arrangements for the care of a child.

Students learn about the Children Act, the Child Arrangements Programme, Enforcement and Appeals and develop writing and practical legal research skills.

Led by Dr Holly Greenwood and Huw Pritchard

The Justice Gap is an award-winning online magazine about law and justice and the difference between the two.

In collaboration with Cardiff University, Manchester University, University of Glasgow and University College London (UCL), the magazine runs a volunteer reporter scheme open to law students with an interest in journalism and a commitment to human rights.

Following a successful application, students receive training in news writing and journalistic skills and are given the opportunity to contribute to the site as Justice Gap reporters, writing news as well as features and investigations.

The Justice Gap aims to broaden the discussion about law and justice and include voices and perspectives not normally heard.

Led by David Keane, Placements Manager

Victim Support is a national charity which supports people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales.

Our students volunteer at the charity's national inbound call centre. Amongst the services they offer is their national support line which provides free and confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Through this scheme, students develop important skills such as empathy, active listening and the importance of being non-judgemental.