Aberdeen spinoff to create student law project in Inverness
A student law project is to be set up in Inverness, thanks to a partnership between legal firm Harper Macleod and the Aberdeen Law Project (ALP).
The Inverness Law Project (ILP) will be launched in late November, with law students, supported by Harper Macleod solicitors, providing a range of free legal services to individuals and groups in the local community who cannot otherwise obtain legal advice or representation. These services will include holding law clinics, carrying out community outreach and providing legal research resources.
Beginning on Wednesday 28 November, monthly legal clinics will be held at the Spectrum community centre, covering most aspects of law including housing, employment, consumer issues, charities, discrimination and land disputes. It does not cover criminal, family or immigration issues, and is not for those who are already eligible for legal aid.
The ILP will be student led, operating under student director Lauren Frame, with Harper Macleod providing support, training and supervision to the students involved.
It is the first spin-off project from the ALP, which since it was set up in 2009, by then student Ryan Whelan, has become one of the largest and most successful law projects in the UK.
Chris Kerr, Harper Macleod's lead partner in the Highlands and Islands, commented: "We are delighted to support the project's expansion into Inverness and the Highlands with the creation of the ILP. We share ALP’s passion for access to justice and our involvement in the project is a fantastic opportunity to use our depth of experience and expertise to help give something back to the areas of the local community which need it most."
He added: "There is a great well of young legal talent both from and in the region and we look forward to supporting them in this venture."
Ryan Whelan, now chair of the ALP board, added: "The time is now right to act on ALP’s long-held ambition to expand north. In Inverness, as in Aberdeen, our students will work on two fronts. As well as holding legal clinics, where the students will provide advice and representation, the ILP will also work with the community to educate and empower, reducing the access to justice problem over time rather than serving only to firefight issues as they arise.
"The success of this dual approach has exceeded all expectations in Aberdeen and the north east, and we believe our new sister project will have the same impact in Inverness. ALP’s ethos is all about collaboration and partnership. We are therefore delighted that the people of Inverness have welcomed us so warmly, and we are extremely grateful to Harper Macleod for coming on board as our exclusive partners in this venture."
www.abdnlawproject.com