Liverpool Law Mar 2017

Charity and CSR
Charity and CSR Matters
Hello! These are the pages to spread
news of your good deeds. If you
would like to tell others about your
CSR activities, please send me an
article. Equally, if you want to get
other lawyers involved in offering probono
advice, know of an opening for
a charity Trustee or want us to feature
a particular charity, then let me know
too. You can e-mail me at
matthew.smith@weightmans.com
LJMU Legal Advice Clinic
Matt Smith talks about his experience at the clinic and what you
can do to get involved.
This month I went along to the LJMU Legal Advice Clinic to
supervise two students dealing with an employment issue.
Paul Crowley & Co announced as
official charity partner of Zoë’s Place
for 2017
The Legal Advice Centre offers free legal advice to students, staff
and members of the public. Students volunteer at the Legal Advice
Centre, gaining valuable legal experience.
In March 2015, the Legal Advice Centre was shortlisted for the
LawWorks and Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards 2015
(Best Contribution by a Law School and Best New Student Pro
Bono Activity).
On this occasion the students had volunteered to help an individual
who had been engaged by a company as a driver on a (questionably)
self-employed basis and felt that the company had terminated his
contract due to his nationality. I was impressed at how diligently the
students had prepared for the meeting and how well they handled
the interview, as this was the first time either of them had done this.
The students don’t provide advice during the meeting but aim to
gather enough information to write a letter to them after the meeting
and they did a very good job of it. I came away feeling that there
was something the students could do to genuinely help this person
and that I’d managed to give the students some pointers that will be
helpful in their development too. So we all got something out of it!
I would recommended getting involved with the clinic and there are
many different ways you can dos so. Their ‘wish list’ includes the
following:
• Ad-hoc requests for advice – they are able to offer commercial
property advice (subject to colleague’s availability) but would
welcome the opportunity to reach out periodically for criminal law,
housing, and immigration advice, to those happy to be contacted.
• Training – the LAC covers basic topics in the induction
programme for students, but would be interested to have
professional skills training as well, particularly interviewing and
managing clients.
• Fundraising and profile raising – The LAC is grateful to hear
of gaps that have been encountered where they may be able to
develop new projects. Links with charities are welcome. With
external sponsorship the LAC can develop better student materials,
publicity for their services, client materials, and office equipment.
• Equipment – unwanted books (not too historic) are always
welcome.
• Collaboration on projects – the chance to shadow solicitors
working on pro bono cases in house; commercial property and
housing advice provision.
Contact: Rachel Stalker
R.Stalker@ljmu.ac.uk
Paul Crowley & Co, which has offices in Liverpool city centre,
Anfield and West Derby, has launched a fund raising programme
with Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice for 2017.
The firm’s conveyancing department will be running a campaign
throughout 2017, offering new and existing clients a complimentary
Zoë’s Place teddy bear, with all proceeds going to the charity.
Staff will participate in a number of fundraising events, including
the ‘Tough Mudder’ challenge, as well as monthly staff fundraising
events and quizzes.
The firm will also be involved in the charity’s official fundraising
events throughout the year, including its ‘boxing dinner’, ‘ladies
lunch’ and ‘it’s a knockout’ events. The team will also be involved in
‘jumpology’ and ‘bubble rush’ events, and an indoor and outdoor
abseil.
Paul Crowley, Senior Partner, says: “We are incredibly proud to
offer our support to such an important and valuable local charity.
Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice is a cornerstone of our local community,
supporting many families through very difficult times and so this is a
perfect way for us to offer our support.
“As a firm, we have a commitment to giving back to the local
community and the partnership is a great way for us to be able to do
so. We hope that our work will help to raise awareness for Zoë’s
Place amongst our new and existing clients, and encourage others to
get involved too”.
Samantha Lee, corporate and events fundraising officer at Zoë’s
Place, says: “Zoë’s Place is over the moon that Paul Crowley & Co
have chosen to support us over the next year. I was touched by their
overwhelming love for our wonderful hospice when they visited and
we find this often helps with fundraising.
“By sharing our bear with clients who take up the firm’s
conveyancing services, together we can spread awareness about the
hospice which will make life a little easier for many families across
the Northwest. I would like to thank the firm for their support and
Zoë’s Place is looking forward to working together.”
24 www.liverpoollawsociety.org.uk