Robert Gordon students open Kirkwall law clinic

A new student-led community law clinic has officially opened in Kirkwall.

The Orkney Community Clinic is a partnership between the Grampian Community Law Centre, part of Robert Gordon University’s Law School, and the Orkney Blide Trust, a mental wellbeing charity based in Kirkwall. 

Operating virtually, the confidential and independent service will offer legal support and guidance to local people in areas including housing, employment, consumer rights and family law. 

The Blide Trust is supplying secure and appropriate office space within their Kirkwall centre to allow the virtual clinic to operate. Members of the public will have use of a laptop and a quiet office space to allow consultations to take place. 

Clients can book appointments by emailing GCLC@rgu.ac.uk. They will be given a time to attend at the Blide Trust at 54 Victoria Street, Kirkwall for their consultation. 

The first appointments of the Clinic will take place today, and then every Thursday between 5 and 8pm.

Like the university's Aberdeen-based Community Clinic and Climate Clinic, which also come under the umbrella of the Grampian Community Law Centre, the clinic will be led by solicitor Hannah Moneagle, director of the Grampian Community Law Centre and a lecturer at the university, helped by law students who can gain vital experience while also offering an essential service.

She said: "It has become apparent that there is an access to justice gap in Scotland which affects the most vulnerable, and particularly those living in remote areas.

"When considering the model for the centre, we felt it was important not to restrict what we could offer and it’s very exciting that we have now been able to create this new clinic in Orkney. It is, of course, also a fantastic learning opportunity for our student advisers at RGU."

Clare Allison, service director at the Blide Trust, added: "We know from experience that people who face barriers to accessing legal advice are negatively affected by this so when we heard about the idea for a local community clinic, we were keen to support it by offering our building. We’re therefore very much looking forward to partnering with those at Grampian Community Law Centre and contributing positively and directly towards our local community."