Town's free legal clinic to open

A free law clinic for Reading residents is set to get under way.

The town's new monthly legal surgery will open at the CommuniCare advice centre on Kings Road at Cemetery Junction from 3 December.

Funding for the scheme was raised by the University of Reading's Law School staff, who took part in the 2009 London Legal sponsored walk.

The clinic will provide advice in areas such as consumer, debt, employment and landlord and tenant law.

Helping the community

The service is a joint initiative between the university's law school, legal firm Shoosmiths, CommuniCare and LawWorks - a charity which supports the delivery of voluntary legal services by lawyers.

Staff from Shoosmiths, who will provide pro-bono [free] legal advice, will be supported by law students from the university.

Professor Patricia Leopold, from the University of Reading, said: "The school of law is keen to encourage students to use the skills they acquire as law students to assist in the community.

"Working on this project will provide an additional opportunity for students to use these skills and to develop new clinical skills."

Richard Harrison, of LawWorks, said: "The clinic will help people identify their legal problem and provide some initial legal advice and guidance on appropriate next steps."