The Law Clinic at Teesside University has won national recognition in the LawWorks & Attorney General's Student Pro Bono Awards 2017, winning the award for best contribution by a team of students.

The awards - hosted by the Attorney General, Jeremy Wright MP, in the House of Commons - celebrate the best pro bono activities undertaken by law students and law schools and the positive impacts those activities have had on those who have been assisted.

The Law Clinic was launched in 2012 and is based in the University's School of Social Sciences, Business & Law. Since that time it has dealt with over 1,000 enquiries, allowing it to serve its dual purpose of providing law students with real practical experience of handling legal cases, whilst offering a service to the community in cases where people may otherwise find it difficult to afford legal advice and representation. The work of the Law Clinic has also recovered or saved in excess of £1.5m for clients.

The Law Clinic has also been shortlisted for the Pro Bono/Community Initiative in the Northern Law Awards 2017 for their work in offering advice to former steelworkers who were not in a union following the closure of the SSI site in Redcar.

Senior Lecturer in Law, Teesside Law Clinic, Andrew Perriman, said: This is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the hard work and dedication of students past and present.

The work we do in Teesside Law Clinic identifies the University's commitment to the local community, which has now achieved national recognition with this award.

In recognition of the vital role that local firms have played in the Law Clinic's success, Mr Perriman said Teesside Law Clinic at Teesside University would like to thank local firms for their continued support in our Law Clinic and this award has been achieved through the support of our partners and supporters.