This is a scheme supporting defendants in criminal trials, usually in the Crown Courts rather than the Magistrates’ Court. 

Legal aid does not fund solicitors to go to court with their clients where a barrister is also there. This is a problem for the solicitors, who pride themselves on supporting their clients and who have built a relationship of trust with them while preparing for the hearing. It’s a problem for the clients who may be very worried about their case. 

This is where our students come in. They attend court as agents for the law firm, meeting the client, introducing the barrister, taking a note of the barrister’s advice, and liaise between barrister and client during the hearing. They can offer reassurance to the clients. They then report back to the law firm about what happened and next steps. 

The students will know about the client’s case and read the case papers, which they can access subject to strict data security measures. They can’t give legal advice. 

The students who join this scheme go to court once a week or so.  

Students receive data protection training and de-esclalation training and are supported by a student manager, lead student manager, and Clinic Director as well as the law firm they are representing. Our handbook covers the practicalities of the scheme, court etiquette, and professional expectations. Pastoral support is available. 

Students benefit from learning about professional ethics, criminal law, the workings of the criminal justice system, and client care. 

The scheme was originally set up by the law clinic at the University of Kent, and we are grateful for their assistance. We are also grateful to Superlawyer who provide the secure data sharing point we use.  

Want our help? 

At present we have one law firm partner, Belmores Ltd. We are happy to take on further criminal defence firms, barristers’ chambers, or individual barristers, either on a long-term or ad hoc basis. Enquiries about joining the scheme (for law firms/counsel) should be made to law.clinic@uea.ac.uk 

If you are a criminal defendant, we can’t assist you directly. We have to be asked by your lawyer, so why not suggest that they join our scheme? 

Opportunities for students 

Opportunities for students are advertised by email and the usual process is application followed by interview. We recruit once or twice per year.