Third year law students are running the four-week law clinic – the first of its kind on campus – by inviting staff and students to send in their legal problem via an online form.

Students will consider an array of legal issues including consumer rights, credit advice, personal legal problems and general family law.

Clients are offered an appointment to meet the students at a clinic on campus held every Wednesday afternoon in February. The students will then give their free advice, checked and approved by qualified lawyers, by letter within two weeks.

The confidential service, which started on February 1, is now fully booked. It is hoped the pilot will lead to a similar service for local members of the public.

Barrister Louise Rae is supervising the students and Lancaster law firm Holdens is supporting the initiative.

Head of the Law School Professor Alisdair Gillespie said: “The clinic provides students with hands-on work experience of dealing with cases in the real world, as well as an opportunity to give something back to staff and the wider community.”