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Widening access to justice and the legal profession through real-world legal experience.

The City Law School has a long-standing commitment to pro bono work, dating back to its origins as the Inns of Court Law School. Today, our LawIRL (Law in Real Life) programme continues that legacy by offering students practical legal experience while actively widening access to justice and the legal profession.

We give students the chance to apply their legal knowledge in real-world settings; through supervised clinics, placements, mock trials, and pro bono work delivered via our multi award-winning City Community Legal Advice Centre (CityCLAC).

Why LawIRL?

Whether you're just starting your law degree or preparing for professional training, LawIRL helps you:

  • Build confidence and professional skills
  • Gain experience working with real clients
  • Engage with the legal profession and local communities
  • Strengthen your CV and career readiness for graduate employment
  • Contribute to widening access to justice and the legal profession

Message from Director Sally Gill

Welcome to LawIRL which has been specifically created with law students in mind. With over 20 years’ experience of working in Law Schools leading on pro bono initiatives, I know what a difference it can make to graduate outcomes. By choosing activities from our ladder of opportunities through the LawIRL programme we hope that you gain valuable skills to take into your future professional careers. The LawIRL team look forward to welcoming you.

Explore our Law IRL Opportunities

For Undergraduate students

  • Year 1: Welfare Benefits Clinic
  • Year 2–3: General, Housing Disrepair, and Immigration Clinics
  • Year 3: LawIRL elective module, Career Activation Programme placements
  • Volunteering in the legal sector: Through City Volunteering external opportunities
  • Mock Trials: Develop public speaking, legal reasoning and knowledge of court etiquette
  • Judge marshalling: Shadow a judge and see advocacy in practice

For Postgraduate students

These experiences complement academic study and prepare students for pupillage, solicitor training or other areas of the legal profession. Postgraduates can obtain experience of advocacy in the City School Exclusion Service (CitySES) and the Company Insolvency Project.

We offer court marshalling opportunities to shadow a judge and see advocacy in practice. Students are selected from amongst the CityCLAC volunteers.

Bar students also have the opportunity of working with the Free Representation Unit or the Pro Bono Community as part of the clinical legal education module.

What our students say

CityCLAC was fantastically helpful. It really gave me an idea of what I'd be doing in the future and what I'd enjoy, and was a very useful talking point at interview! I'd recommend it to anybody.

– Michael - former Student Adviser at City's Community Legal Advice Centre, LPC student, and recipient of training contract offer

If all goes well I will work as a paralegal then as a trainee. Keep up the amazing work! You have helped so many students already and we are thankful for you.

– Selin - former Student Adviser at City's Community Legal Advice Centre, final year LLB students, and recipient of Legal Assistant offer
Law students in The City Law School Building.

Contact us

  • Sally Gill

    Director of the City Community Legal Advice Centre and Law IRL service

    sally.gill@city.ac.uk

    City Community Legal Advice Centre and Law IRL Law School Building Ground Floor, TG12
    Sebastian Street     London EC1V 0HB United Kingdom

Please note we do not operate a drop in service for clients. To request legal advice you will need to fill in our online form, which is available on the CityCLAC website.

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