Law Firm Proud To Support Free Legal Advisory Clinics

Irwin Mitchell’s employment law team in London is continuing its partnership with the Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre, providing pro-bono legal supervision to university undergraduates.

The Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre offers free legal advice for members of the public whilst meeting the educational needs of its law students who are looking to gain first-hand experience.

Members of the public that attend the sessions meet with a student legal adviser from the university and a supervising qualified lawyer. Following the meeting, the individual receives free written advice within 14 days explaining their legal position and what steps to take next. 

Natalie Flynn, a solicitor at Irwin Mitchell in London, will continue to supervise students who are working in the centre in relation to employment law issues. During this academic year she will be joined by her colleague Sacha Sokhi who is also an employment solicitor at Irwin Mitchell in London.

Natalie Flynn said: “Irwin Mitchell has a strong track record supporting other free legal clinics on a pro-bono basis and I’m really looking forward to continuing the work I did last year when term starts again.” 

Shah Qureshi, Head of Irwin Mitchell’s employment team in London said:

“I am very proud that we are continuing and extending our partnership with QMLAC. One in five residents in Tower Hamlets earn less than the London Living Wage and it is important that people have access to employment advice whatever their means.”

In 2019, the Queen Mary University of London was presented with an award for the activities and contributions of its Legal Advice Centre at the LawWorks and Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards. The awards celebrate the best pro bono activities undertaken by law students and law schools across the UK.  This year, the Legal Advice Centre has won a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) in recognition of its outstanding contribution to higher education through its collaborative partnerships with law firms like Irwin Mitchell. 

The Centre has also won the Principles Prize in the Teaching and Excellence Awards as well as the Richard Garriott Public Engagement Award.

Frances Ridout from the Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre said; “It has been brilliant to collaborate with Irwin Mitchell to provide such valuable employment law advice to clients. We look forward to continuing this into the next academic year with Natalie and Sacha.”