Community Legal Helpdesk

The Annual Fund provided funding to support the post of a qualified supervisor for the Community Legal Helpdesk, a student outreach project based at Exeter County Court.

The Community Legal Helpdesk aims to have a qualitative impact on the experience of law students at the University of Exeter by providing a unique law clinic experience which is different to the opportunities available at other universities.

With reductions in legal aid availability and funding, the helpdesk is a great asset to the local community, offering a free information service to members of the public in need of legal advice. It is also an opportunity for students to get some practical law experience, and receive training from organisations such as Exeter Citizens’ Advice Bureau.

The Community Legal Helpdesk exists to improve access to justice and address the high volume of unmet legal need in Exeter.

Student caseworkers, supervised by a qualified lawyer, run three drop-in sessions each week at Exeter County Court, providing free information and guidance to members of the public involved in legal disputes. We also run outreach sessions at community venues across the city, targeted to address specific priority issues such as debt

Taking part in the Community Legal Helpdesk has a significant impact on the students involved, both in terms of their employability and their academic studies.

Students are actively encouraged to make links between the extra-curricular experiences they gain through the Helpdesk and their studies. Several caseworkers have commented that being involved in the Helpdesk has had a positive impact on their studies by increasing their understanding of legal processes and giving them a greater awareness of the practical applications of the law.

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