Launch of volunteer Community Legal Companions' scheme

On the evening of 6 November 2024, the University of Surrey’s Access to Justice clinic launched an important initiative to help vulnerable people navigate civil and family court processes.

Launch of volunteer companion scheme by University of Surrey at Guildford Family Court, November 2024

I was really pleased to hear about this exciting CLOCK project which works with university students to support court users who do not have access to legal advice or support. Lots of people that we encounter in the family court are like rabbits in the headlights. Projects like CLOCK mean that they can go into court with someone alongside them to guide them, give basic advice and to demystify the process for them. This type of support is very much needed. We have a collective interest in helping the system engage with litigants in person more efficiently and to help them get access to justice in a far more focused way. From the court’s perspective, supporting litigants in person helps reduce court delays and helps to keep cases out of court, which can only be good for the system. All while providing valuable experience for law students. My thanks go out to all of you who have worked hard to make this project happen. I hope it continues to be taken up in more court centres across the country.

Sir Andrew Macfarlane, President of the Family Division

The Community Legal Outreach Collaboration Keele (CLOCK) is an award-winning collaborative law project that originated at Keele University. The CLOCK project is a collaborative partnership between the University of Keele, other universities, their students, law firms and third sector organisations working together under a common framework to provide access to justice for the community in accordance with the CLOCK objectives.

The CLOCK project has been set up by Director of Clinical Legal Education, Liz Williams, Rights of Women and Firebird with Guildford Family Courts. Along with Surrey agencies and lawyers, the University of Surrey Law School’s Access to Justice Clinic is training student volunteers, to act as Community Legal Companions for litigant in persons [someone who has to go to court without legal representation from a solicitor or barrister] accessing Surrey civil and family courts.

The launch took place at Guildford Family Court and was attended by 50 guests from local law firms, NGOs and the University.

Her Honour Judge Lindsey George chaired the event and speakers included Sam, a third-year LLB student who is a volunteer companion; Dr Ira Lyndsey, Head of Surrey Law School; Joanna Shaw, Rights of Women, and a speaker from the Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership.

The cuts to the Legal Aid system has meant an increase in people trying to represent themselves in court.

We heard a harrowing account of one woman’s experience of going through the family court process as a litigant in person. In it, the litigant spoke of the humiliation, the confusion and powerlessness she felt during her three-day court hearing, a stark reminder of why a scheme such as CLOCK is so urgently needed.

Sam said that “this is an invaluable experience for us Law students. For us, this project is a chance to apply what we've been studying over the past few years in a way that no classroom can replicate.... We know that books and lectures often leave out the human-side of law.... This is a rare chance to understand the true depth of the profession we are preparing to enter.” He added, “it’s great to give something back to the community, this community which, in our time at the University of Surrey, has become our home. It’s giving back in a meaningful way.”

Liz Williams, who set up and will run the CLOCK project at the University of Surrey, said: “I am so grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Surrey Family Justice and Domestic Abuse Partnership, initiated by Rights of Women and Firebird, to make this initiative such a success from the outset. I’d also like to thank the judges, court staff and lawyers in training the students, and most importantly, the Law undergraduate and postgraduate students who have volunteered for such an important and vitally needed scheme. It was great that the launch took place during Pro Bono Week”.

Her Honour Judge George concluded proceedings with a message from Sir Andrew Macfarlane, President of the Family Division (see side bar).