A FREE legal advice centre run by students at the University of Bolton has been shortlisted for a top national award.

The centre is one of the finalists in the ‘Best New Pro Bono Activity’ category of the 2021 Law Works and Attorney General’s Student Pro Bono Awards.

The awards celebrate the best pro bono activities undertaken by law students and law schools.

The winners will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony on May 12 with the Attorney General, the Rt Hon Micheal Ellis QC MP.

The Legal Advice Centre at the University of Bolton was launched in September 2019 and is the brainchild of lecturer in law and qualified Solicitor Advocate Ian Bowden.

It has dealt with almost 300 cases from people in the Bolton community. Throughout the pandemic students, supported by University lecturers, have continued to work remotely.

Ian said: “It is fantastic that everyone’s hard work on the Legal Advice Centre has been recognised; to make the shortlist in such illustrious company is wonderful. The Centre has been a huge success Cases have come to us from people who probably could not afford to get advice from a solicitor. They have included employment issues caused by Covid, such as disputes over furlough payments or people losing their jobs.”

Other topics raised included issues around property, commercial, negligence, wills and probate, tax, criminal, contract, environmental and immigration law.

Alasdair Douglas, Chair of LawWorks said: “Congratulations to all those shortlisted for the LawWorks and Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards.

“It has been clear from the large number of nominations that, despite the pandemic, pro bono initiatives are thriving at UK law schools.”

An online portal, where members of the public can register their legal enquiry with the University of Bolton’s Legal Advice Centre can be found at www.bolton.ac.uk/legal-advice-centre/