BPP officially launches family law clinic in Holborn

BPP University officially opened its family law clinic on 16 October following a successful pilot scheme which helped dozens of Londoners through the legal issues surrounding separation, divorce and child access arrangements. 

The service runs from BPP Law School's site in Holborn, and helps local people who can no longer access free legal advice as a result of the introduction of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act in April 2013.

David Hansford, BPP's pro bono and legal advice clinic manager, said: "It's good for the students to get experience on real legal cases. They have to come up with a practical letter of advice so they really develop their legal skills. We’ve had students drafting divorce papers. They are supervised by qualified solicitors but it gives them the chance to experience the realities of the profession they want to work in. We know this can’t replace legal aid and we’re not attempting to do that, but it can offer legal advice to people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to access it."

Pinder Saggu, one of the student volunteers, has appreciated the opportunity to help a local community get the access to legal advice that has been denied to them by the deliberately ideological cuts of the government: "Being part of a pilot project that has made a difference to our clients’ lives has been a rewarding journey. I am very passionate about everyone having the right of 'access to justice.' I was intrigued by the family law pilot project and inspired by the implications of the recent changes in Legal Aid for family law cases to get involved. This really did prepare me to deal with the sensitive nature of family law cases you do face as a student adviser."