It was a pleasure to visit the Law Clinic at the University of East Anglia and see first-hand the work they are doing to support our local community.
The UEA Business Clinic, part of the Law Clinic, is providing free legal and business advice to social enterprises, spin-outs and SMEs across Norfolk and Suffolk. It brings together experts from UEA, local law firms and organisations including Menta and FUSE. Since launching in Spring 2023, the team has supported around 120 local clients and is already making a real difference to businesses in our region.
If you are a local business in need of support, the next clinics take place on the afternoons of 22 April and 20 May. You can apply via The Business Clinic.
This work matters. Current data shows that Norwich South has no local legal aid providers in key areas such as community care, education, immigration and welfare benefits. Even in family law, capacity is extremely limited, leaving many people without access to vital support.
I also met Louise Shorter and her students working on the Justice Project, an inspiring initiative that investigates potential miscarriages of justice and supports those maintaining their innocence.
Thank you to everyone involved. This is the kind of work that strengthens our community and expands access to justice.