The School of Law at St Mary's University, Twickenham (SMU) is delighted to be partnering with Support Through Court, a national charity that provides free practical and emotional help to people who cannot afford vital legal services or access legal aid.
St Mary’s School of Law is delighted to be partnering with Support Through Court, a national charity that provides free practical and emotional help to people who cannot afford vital legal services or access legal aid.
The partnership will enable Support Through Court to continue its life-changing work in London, at the Royal Courts of Justice and Central Family Court, with students contributing to the work the charity is doing to support people facing court alone. This will have a significant impact on the local community, growing the capacity of the essential services offered by Support Through Court and helping those navigating the court system without legal representation.
Students from St Mary’s will have the opportunity to gain practical work experience through the partnership, allowing them to provide legal support to those going through the court system. They will do so by supporting people without representation at face-to-face appointments and court hearings, which will help them develop essential skills necessary to work in the legal field.
Emma Taylor, Chief Executive Officer for Support Through Court, said: ‘The rising cost of living means that our support is needed more than ever before, whilst also making our services harder to deliver without new partnerships and supporters. We look forward to working with the university to provide practical and emotional support to more people going through court alone as litigants in person. By working in partnership, we can ensure more people have access to justice’.
Charley Dugdale, Subject Lead for Partnerships in the School of Law at SMU said, "We are delighted to launch this new exciting opportunity for our students. St Mary’s University’s partnership with Support Through Court will provide students with invaluable real-world experience of the court system, enhancing their practical skills and understanding of the judicial process. This collaboration not only supports students’ academic journey, but also helps to foster a sense of social responsibility supporting members of the local community through the complexities of the court system."
Support Through Court runs thanks to the support of over 600 volunteers providing practical and emotional support to litigants in person. The organisation is a charity, relying on funding from supporters. More information about how you can support their work can be found online: www.supportthroughcourt.org/donate