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Free legal advice by appointment

05 Sep 2013

The University of Manchester School of Law Legal Advice Centre (LAC) has reopened and is currently taking enquiries in readiness for the next round of appointments.

Please note that appointments are not solely for University staff or students: if you have a local friend or relative with a legal difficulty, we may be able to provide advice for them also.

Appointments on campus, normally two per day between 12pm-2pm,  will begin on Monday, 23 September and end on Friday, 29 November. Appointments quickly become booked up and we would advise you to make an early request where possible. We are only able to provide legal advice following a face to face appointment as this is an essential aspect of the students’ practical experience.

At the discretion of the Centre Director, students from the School of Law give advice on a wide range of legal problems, under the supervision of qualified law staff and local practitioners who volunteer their time and expertise free of charge. The aim is to offer a reliable service to those with legal difficulties, especially those who have been unable to receive advice elsewhere, and to provide practical experience (clinical education) to the School’s students.

Any legal enquiry is welcome but we are unable to advise any person who wishes to pursue a claim against the University, its governors, employees or current students or to advise on any situation where a potential conflict may arise. In the event of our being unable to help, we will try to refer enquiries to other likely sources of help.

We hope to advise you on your legal position and what steps you could take next, including referral to other agencies if appropriate.  After an appointment, your problem is researched by the students who draft a letter of advice to be sent to you once approval is received from the Centre Solicitor. The target for completing the process is two weeks from the date of appointment but this will vary according to workload commitments and complexities.

All legal advice will be given in the strictest confidence in accordance with the Law Society Code of Conduct and we aim to comply with the professional standards applicable to any lawyer’s practice.

Further information

If you have an issue on which you feel we may be able to provide advice, please contact the School of Law Legal Advice Centre by one of the following methods:

  • eMail free.legal@manchester.ac.uk 
  • Tel  0161 306 1264 or 0161 275 7976
  • Come in person to the University Shopping Precinct (10am-4.30pm, Monday-Friday)