The annual awards were held virtually last week, with ARU’s Law Clinic winning the category that it had previously won in 2019. Speeches were given by three special guests; Stephanie Boyce, President of the Law Society of England and Wales; Lucy Frazer QC, MP for South East Cambridgeshire and Solicitor General for England and Wales; and Elizabeth Rimmer, CEO of Lawcare.
The Law Clinic was set up in 2018, working with local law firms in Cambridge, Chelmsford and Peterborough to provide free, independent and confidential legal advice to people who otherwise might struggle to obtain it.
Since the start of the pandemic, consultations have been held online, enabling the service to cast its net wider. The clinic has just seen its 600th ‘virtual’ client since the first UK lockdown in March 2020. To date it has provided more than £200,000 worth of free advice.
The Law Clinic has also worked with local judiciary in its three cities to provide websites to help people negotiate the often-daunting family court system.
Sarah Calder, Director of the Law Clinic at ARU (pictured), said: “We are thrilled to have won this award for the second time. It is extremely gratifying to be so embedded in and respected by the local legal community.
“We continue to strive to reach out to as many people as possible who need our support.”