Jeanette Ashton, Senior Lecturer in law in the university’s 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Business School, said: “Demand for the scheme in 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ has very much been driven by the family court judges who acknowledge that whilst the assistance the students can provide is limited and there is no substitute for professional legal advice, there is a need for some kind of help.
“Data will be collated from the project and this will be centralised in an IT system run by Keele which has overarching governance of the scheme.
“Research will be undertaken as the data comes through by the various university hubs and this will be fed back to the government.
“Legal Companions will have a minimum commitment of two hours a week at court or at a partner firm on a rota basis and will assist with form-filling, accompanying a litigant in court and taking notes. The training and literature provided stresses that there is no advice.
“The main aim for Legal Companions is to assist litigants in person by signposting them to appropriate services.”
For more information, contact the 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Family Centre, 1 Edward Street, 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, BN2 0JD, or call the CLOCK phone line: 01273 811338 (CLOCK is available there from 9am-3pm Tues, Weds, Thurs, and at 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ County Court in William Street, 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, on Mondays and Fridays).