For many people in the UK, when a legal problem arises—a housing dispute, an immigration question, a workplace conflict—the first obstacle is not finding a solution. It is affording the help needed to navigate the system. Legal aid cuts over the past decade have left significant gaps in free advice provision, particularly outside London. In Oxfordshire, that gap is now being partly addressed by a group of university students.

Law students at Oxford Brookes University have joined forces with Citizens Advice Oxfordshire to launch a new free legal clinic on the university's Headington campus. The clinic opened in January 2026 and runs every other Wednesday, offering face-to-face support to members of the public across a range of legal issues including immigration, family law, and employment matters.

Qualified solicitors and legal advisers volunteer their time to advise clients directly. Law students work alongside them, gaining real-world experience while providing practical support—accompanying clients to appointments, helping with form-filling, and signposting people to additional services and agencies.

Leslie Topp, who coordinates the pro bono clinic for Citizens Advice and is herself an Oxford Brookes graduate, explained the significance of locating the clinic on campus. "Students already volunteer at our clinic in Oxford's Westgate Library," Topp said. "Now they will be running a brand new clinic on the Oxford Brookes campus in Headington, making our services even more accessible. This will make an enormous difference to people across Oxfordshire, particularly those who find that paying for legal advice is beyond their means."

Silas Bastow, a final-year law student and Student Coordinator for the clinic, highlighted the professional value of the initiative. "For students, it's a fantastic opportunity not only to work alongside local legal professionals, but also to experience first-hand how lawyers support individuals in need," Bastow said. "This fosters a crucial link between the legal profession and our academic studies—one that is increasingly difficult to obtain in a competitive job market."

Dr Charlotte Houghteling, Senior Lecturer in Law at Oxford Brookes, confirmed that students completed comprehensive training over the autumn before working with real clients. The initiative reflects a broader trend among UK law schools to embed pro bono and community service into legal education—recognising that the profession's purpose extends beyond courtrooms and boardrooms.