Frequently asked questions about the BCU Law Clinic

How to access legal advice from the Law Clinic
What will happen during a BCU Law Clinic advice session?
How will you deal with my personal information?
Is the clinic a legal practice?
How do I end our agreement?
What will it cost?
What do I do if I have a complaint?

How to access legal advice from the BCU Law Clinic

For all general, family law and personal injury enquiries please call 0121 202 4605 or email your enquiry to BCULawClinic@bcu.ac.uk. All enquiries will then be triaged and you can expect a response to your enquiry within 2 working days.

What will happen during a BCU Law Clinic advice session?

Each clinic operates differently but generally the students take information about your case. They will then collaborate with their supervisors who will then advise you or will supervise the advice provided to you by the students. Dependant on the clinic, written advice may also be available.

Subject to the service of the clinic, the advice may be limited to a one-off initial appointment or may be ongoing/ offer form filling (as appropriate).

When you enquire full details as to the nature and extent of the advice service will be made available, specific to the clinic.

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How will you deal with my personal information?

Each clinic will have specific rules as to how it deals with and stores your personal information. Underpinning the different policies is that all client information will be treated strictly confidentially and in compliance with current GDPR Data Protection regulations.

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Is the clinic a legal practice?

Solicitors and staff supervising legal advice work done within the BCU Law Clinic via Central England Law Centre are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Central England Law Centre (CELC) is a firm regulated by the SRA. All clinics supervised by CELC will be subject to SRA regulation and appropriately insured.

It should be noted that Birmingham City University is not a firm regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority but all Solicitors employed by BCU and working in the Law Clinic are regulated by the SRA and appropriately insured. This includes (but not limited to) Fiona Farrell who leads the BCU Internal Family Law Clinic and Samantha Gargaro.

All practitioners volunteering as part of the externally provided Family Law Clinic via Law Works and Personal Injury advice provided by Hodges Jones and Allen, are covered by their own indemnity insurance.

Support Through Court is not a legal practice and is not regulated by the SRA.

Further information can be provided on request or by  visiting the SRA website.

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How do I end our agreement?

How you end any agreement with us is dependent on which clinic you are working with so please refer to the supervisor of each clinic or email BCUlawclinic@bcu.ac.uk for further information if you are not clear.

Most clinics involve one-off advice arrangements.

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What will it cost?

All the operating clinics do not charge for their services. However, you should be aware of the following points:

• You may be eligible for publicly-funded help and representation to pursue or defend your claim (known as ‘legal aid’). Each of the clinics can signpost you to firms who may be able to obtain such assistance for you if they  believe you may be eligible and are not able to provide it. If you are eligible to receive assistance you may be liable to pay a contribution. You may also be liable to repay your costs from any money or property recovered.
• If you decide to pursue court or tribunal proceedings you may be ordered to pay the costs of your opponent if you lose your case.

The clinics operated by BCU Law Clinic cannot incur third party disbursements on your behalf.  

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What do I do if I have a complaint?

We hope you will be satisfied with the service provided by BCU Law Clinic and its clinic partners.

Should you wish to complain the procedure will be dependent on the principal supervisor of the clinic i.e. CELC, BCU, STC, named Private Practice and will be specific to their individual terms and conditions (which will be provided by the respective clinics).

In specific reference to the BCU clinics (Family/ Personal Injury) if you are unhappy please ask to see the Clinic Director and talk things over to see if you can solve the problem. If you wish to complain in writing, you should address your complaint by email to BCUlawclinic@bcu.ac.uk or by post to:

BCU Law Clinic, Birmingham City University
The Curzon Building
City Centre Campus
4 Cardigan Street
Birmingham B4 7BD

We have a written procedure in place that details how we handle complaints which is available upon request from Samantha Gargaro, Director, who can be contacted on 0121 202 4605.

We have eight weeks to consider your complaint. If we have not resolved it within this time you may complain to the Legal Ombudsman.

If you are not satisfied with our handling of your complaint you can ask the Legal Ombudsman to consider the complaint. The Legal Ombudsman can be contacted as follows:

•        By post: PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton WV1 9WJ
•        By telephone: 0300 555 0333 or 0121 245 3050
•        By email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk

Normally, you will need to bring a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman within six months of receiving a final written response from us about your complaint or within six years of the act or omission about which you are complaining occurring (or if outside of this period, within three years of when you should reasonably have been aware of it)

The Solicitors Regulation Authority could also help you if you are concerned about our behaviour. This could be for things like dishonesty, taking or losing your money or treating you unfairly because of your age, a disability or other characteristic. You can raise your concerns via the Solicitors Regulation Authority website or by calling 0370 606 2555.

If you are unhappy about the way we manage your personal information you have a right to object to the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF. Visit the Information Commissioner website or call them on 0303 123 1113.

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