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Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate social responsibility

Pro bono and community involvement

Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre

                                                            Queen Mary

Student Adviser of the Year Awards 2008

In May, the CSR Group organised an essay writing competition for second and third year students at Queen Mary College, University of London, on "In a wealthy nation, no-one should have to rely on law students for legal advice - discuss".

Karen Beswick, Senior Counsel from Accenture, Rupert White, Features Editor from the Law Society Gazette and Ellen Fleming judged the competition and were very impressed with the quality of the entries. After days of deliberation they decided upon two worthy winners. The winning essay was submitted by Sian Meadows. The runner up was Nnamdi Emelifeonwu.  Both Sian and Nnamdi won cash prizes and a summer placement with the firm.

The advice centre at Queen Mary, University of London, is our main pro bono project.  The centre was set up in 2006 to provide free legal advice to the local east London community, London’s first undergraduate-led legal advice centre.  The launch of the centre, received lots of press coverage.  It is run by the Legal Department at Queen Mary, University of London. We work with second and third year law students in this first ever student-led advice centre.  Participation in the centre is open to all solicitors and trainees and runs every Tuesday evening during University term time.  

Young Solicitor Pro Bono Awards 2007

We were shortlisted as a finalist for the Young Solicitor Pro Bono Awards 2007 (large firm) for our involvement in the centre.  In addition to these sessions, we also provide skills sessions for the students, on interview and research skills, together with various recruitment advice sessions.

  

Lord Goldsmith opening the Centre on 3 November 2006
Attorney General’s Pro Bono Award for the Best New Pro Bono Activity 2008
On 24 April 2008, the Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre triumphed over 40 other UK Law schools to win the coveted Attorney General’s Pro Bono Award for the Best New Pro Bono Activity 2008.  Julie Pinborough, Legal Advice Centre Manager, said: “This is a highly sought after award that has recognised our commitment towards developing ethical legal practices amongst the School’s undergraduate population whilst providing a much needed free legal advice service to the local community.” The Centre faced stiff competition from the Universities of Cardiff and Portsmouth – the only other law schools to be shortlisted in this category.