Personal Injury Solicitors

Manchester's College of Law have forged a new partnership with solicitors from leading law firm Irwin Mitchell to launch a free personal injury advice line for members of the public.

The advice line, which runs during term time, provides preliminary legal advice to people that have suffered a personal injury who want to know if they have a legal case before instructing a solicitor.

Students training for their Legal Practice qualification interview a client and produce an advice letter, carefully supervised throughout.

They gain interviewing, drafting and file management skills through this hands-on experience under the supervision of specialist lawyers from Irwin Mitchell, who offer their services on a pro bono basis.

This is followed by an evaluation meeting, where the student receives feedback from the solicitor.

Jonathan Betts, leading personal injury specialist at Irwin Mitchell in Manchester, said: "The way the advice line works gives students an invaluable opportunity of dealing with real cases under the guidance of qualified supervisors who are experts in personal injury claims.

"Irwin Mitchell is pleased to be able to offer students the support and guidance they need to help progress their training to become solicitors."

Paul Roebuck, pro bono coordinator at the College of Law, said: "The College of Law is delighted to add the Personal Injury Advice Line to its range of free legal services.

"Our students benefit through their work with our pro bono departments.  They get to put what they are learning into practice - interviewing real clients with real problems and providing a service that those people might not otherwise be able to access. This ultimately means that the College of Law produces students with a sense of social responsibility and who not only have the academic qualifications to be a lawyer but have also started to develop the essential skills that every lawyer needs."

The advice line can be contacted on 01483 216755.