Future Living Hertford Family Law Clinic
About the project
Hertfordshire Law Clinic runs a satellite Family Law Clinic with Future Living Hertford, an award-winning charity for those in recovery from addiction and domestic abuse, providing a safe, non-judgemental therapeutic environment.
Law students provide free family law advice to vulnerable clients who have experienced domestic abuse in a safe, familiar environment close to where they live. We work closely with Future Living to ensure that students are able to deal with the challenges that such cases might present. Successful applicants will be provided with full training and will work under the supervision of qualified lawyers.
The Future Living Family Law Clinic provides a much-needed service to the local community in Hertfordshire particularly for individuals on lower incomes seeking family law advice following the decimating cuts to legal aid in 2012. These cuts have left many people unable to access legal advice, with virtually all legal aid for private family cases being stopped. Many family lawyers have stopped offering legal aid work entirely, leaving vulnerable clients unable to access legal advice even if they can meet the strict criteria. The family law clinic has been overwhelmed with demand and extra appointments have been created to accommodate demand. The clinic was the subject of an online BBC article in December 2019.
Find out more about how the Future Living Family Law Clinic has helped clients.
Role of student volunteers
Caseworkers work in pairs to interview new clients at Future Living Hertford’s premises in Hertford. Students carry out legal research and prepare a letter of advice..
Students also contact prospective clients by telephone to take instructions in order to decide if the case is suitable for the clinic.
How do I volunteer?
If you are a current student, please check the pro bono pages on your programme site on Canvas.
If you’re a prospective student and want to learn more, you can contact us as soon as you have accepted your offer by emailing: probono@herts.ac.uk