The Law Clinic was launched in October 2003 in order to provide free legal assistance to people in Glasgow and the surrounding area who are unable to obtain legal assistance through other means. The Clinic is intended to be complementary to existing legal services provided by lawyers and other agencies such as Citizens’ Advice Bureaux. It therefore, does not act for anyone who can afford professional legal services, or who qualifies for legal aid. Nor will it act in areas like debt or immigration advice where there are already adequate services provided.

As the first and still the biggest university law clinic in Scotland, the Law Clinic builds upon a long tradition of student law clinics in other countries, where they are recognised for their value, not only to the community at large, but to each new generation of lawyers. While the Law Clinic prioritises the community’s needs for legal services and its clients’ interest, it is also recognised that students benefit from their involvement in clinic work by developing legal skills, experiencing law in operation, and reflecting on the ethics and justice of legal practice.

Since its launch, the Law Clinic has proved to be a tremendous success, taking on over eighty cases in its first year and has now completed over 950 cases, in many cases achieving notable successes on behalf of clients, both through negotiating settlements and arguing cases in court. There are currently 180 student advisers working towards enhancing access to justice, with five projects reaching out to various areas of the community. These are designed to extend the range of advice and assistance provided (the Initial Advice Clinics and Innocence Project, to help certain groups pursue their own remedies (the Consumer Project) or to provide certain groups with information about the law to prevent legal problems arising in the first place.

"They achieved for me what I could NEVER have achieved for myself."

"Words cannot say what I feel for your help and sensitivity you have shown me over time."

"I was treated by your service with a humane approach, and remain indebted to your professional services. Your legal advice and dedicated efforts are to be commended by the community of Glasgow."