Law in the Community is recruiting for the next Strategic Social Justice Clinic project in Term 3.

Led by Dr Maggie O'Brien (University of Warwick) and Emma Austin (Solicitor with the Central England Law Centre) the SSJC is one of two clinics run by Warwick LinC in partnership with the Central England Law CentreLink opens in a new window (CELC). It aims to use public law and other rights-based strategies to address systemic disadvantage and achieve effective change. Working in small groups student volunteers receive supervision, guidance and mentorship from the clinic leads. During the course of the clinic students will put legal learning into practice, find creative ways of using the law and develop leadership, communication and organisational skills in the social justice sector.

The focus of the project for Term 3 will be as follows:

All decisions made by public bodies must follow the principles of public law. Where they do not, they can be challenged through a process called judicial review. Before starting a judicial review claim in the courts, an individual should comply with the pre-action protocol process. This is aimed at trying to resolve the dispute without the need to resort to the courts. It involves sending a pre-action letter to the public body setting out the basic facts of the case, the alleged unlawful decision and the grounds of challenge with a specific time frame for a response. In straightforward cases, where the unlawfulness is clear, the pre-action process can often result in the public body amending their decision straightaway.

We will be looking at the judicial review and pre-action protocol process and drafting a template pre-action letter that can be used by staff at Central England Law Centre staff. The template letter is likely to concern delays by the Department of Work and Pensions in making decisions on social security claims

Students will be expected to commit 3 - 5 hours per week during term time and attend regular, weekly meetings usually on a Wednesday around midday.

Key Dates

• An online meeting via Teams will be held on Thursday 26th January at 11am. This will be recorded and students can view it after the meeting. The link for the meeting can be accessed here.
• Students should submit their CV and a Cover Letter of no more than 300 words via email to WarwickLinC@warwick.ac.uk by midday 6th February
• Interviews for shortlisted applicants will take place on 15 March

All Warwick Law Students and PPL students are eligible.

For further information please contact WarwickLinC@warwick.ac.uk.