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Joint venture provides training for legal professionals

A º£½ÇÖ±²¥ graduate has joined forces with the University’s unique Law Clinic to spearhead a business offering professional development to solicitors and paralegals.

Andrew Scott, who graduated in 2001 with a first class LLB (Hons) Law, founded Solicitors CPD and, with the help of º£½ÇÖ±²¥ Law Clinic, is looking to expand the business as well as offer employment opportunities to students. Solicitors CPD is an online resource that provides lectures and training for people in the legal profession who are required to complete and self-regulate their own professional development.

Andrew, who specialises in civil law at Parklane Plowden Chambers in Leeds, said: “Those of us in the legal profession are required, annually, to complete professional development.

'Solicitors CPD provides solicitors and legal executives with lectures on things such as tactics, strategy and procedure so that they can meet their own professional development requirements.

'I’m proud to be teaming up again with º£½ÇÖ±²¥ as I have always maintained close contact and am looking to foster a relationship where we are not only providing a business, but offering opportunities for the students to get involved – perhaps in areas of web design and development – thus creating jobs for º£½ÇÖ±²¥ students.

'The Law Clinic at º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is doing excellent work and is really leading the way in terms of student opportunities in the legal profession. My hope is that by working together through Solicitors CPD, we can utilise that success and create something that not only benefits the profession, but the wider community.'

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ Law Clinic is a free student-run legal advice service which allows final year law students to work on real cases under the supervision of solicitors and professionals.

There are plans to develop a spin-off website of Solicitors CPD, offering lectures and revision guides for students and the general public.

Andrew Perriman is a Senior Law Lecturer at º£½ÇÖ±²¥ and runs the Law Clinic.

He said: 'This is a fantastic business to be involved with and provides a cost-effective way for legal professionals to access professional training resources.

'It is another example of how the Law Clinic at the University is looking for new and innovative ways to be at the forefront of legal training and expertise.

'What we would like is contributors to come forward and provide video lectures that can be uploaded to the website.'

Those wanting to access Solicitors CPD can register for free. There is then an individual fee for a wide catalogue of online lectures. After each lecture there is a test and a certificate is provided for successful completion, allowing people to keep a permanent record of their training.

In addition, º£½ÇÖ±²¥ Law Clinic has been shortlisted for two awards in the prestigious Northern Law Awards, which take place in Newcastle on 11 June. The Law Clinic is shortlisted in the Pro Bono / Community Initiative category and Andrew Perriman is up for Law Teacher of the Year.

He added: 'The awards recognise excellence in the legal and education profession and just to be shortlisted is a testament to the work that we are doing here.'

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