A model of clinic- assisting litigants in person

This paper will consider a project between Northumbria University and the Personal Support Unit (PSU) aimed at supporting litigants in person. The PSU is a UK based charity operating in a number of civil and family court centres across England and Wales providing support to litigants in person. The service utilises volunteers to help litigants establish for themselves how to pursue their case. This may include assistance with court documents, seeking legal advice and representation, and supporting a litigant at a hearing. Volunteers do not provide legal advice to litigants. Northumbria University and the PSU are working in partnership to establish a service in the civil courts in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. The partnership is aimed at increasing the capacity of the University to carry out clinical work by providing an opportunity for more students to gain exposure to legal practice whilst also assisting an increasing number of litigants required to engage in court procedures without representation. The authors will provide an overview of the project including the strengths and weakness from the perspective of Northumbria University. This will be followed by an interactive session to consider whether the model can replicated other institutions and jurisdictions providing the basis for growing clinics and increasing access to justice.