New Personal Injury Clinic gives law students real-life experience at Oxford Brookes University

A new Personal Injury Law Clinic has been launched to provide advice to real-life clients while giving students practical experience.

The clinic, which provides pro bono (free) legal advice to clients, is being launched at Oxford Brookes University in partnership with Hodge Jones & Allen solicitors. Daniel Denton, a personal injury partner at Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors will lead the clinic.

Dr Charlotte Houghteling, Senior Lecturer in Law said: “We understand how hard it is for students to get onto the career ladder without experience. Clinics like these give them the chance to get involved at an early stage and help us to provide support to the Oxfordshire community.”

Daniel has already launched similar pro-bono clinics at several universities across England and Wales.  which are proving successful. He will be on hand to offer legal advice with students arranging meetings, taking notes and working with Daniel to create a follow-up advice note for the clients. 

He said: “As a student I remember getting a lot of theory based education and then, when my fellow graduates and I entered the workplace we were suddenly faced with real-life, challenging questions. Putting students at the front and centre of an experience like this means they can graduate with more experience, better armed for entering the legal profession.”

Oxford Brookes Law School students are already given the opportunity to get work experience in law clinics, mooting, interviewing clients and working with Citizens Advice Oxfordshire. They also get the opportunity to support victims of domestic violence with the charity FlagDV or take part in a Criminal Justice Clinic at Bullingdon Prison. 

Dr Houghteling said: “We have an excellent, growing portfolio of partnerships offering real-life experience to give students the edge when they graduate and start their careers. The latest was our new on-campus Citizens Advice Clinic which launched in January. The new legal personal injury clinic will provide a great new addition to this portfolio.”

Law student Milo Wills said: “I’m really excited to be offered the chance by Oxford Brookes Law School and Hodge Jones Allen to pursue a genuine area of interest whilst hopefully providing a helpful service to the community at the same time. 

“As an aspiring barrister with the intention of building a practice in personal injury, to have the opportunity to gain practical experience with real clients is incredible.

“As students studying a largely vocational course, gaining this experience is crucial, not only in terms of understanding the profession, but also to stand out in increasingly competitive application processes.”


Huda Albasri, also a law student, said: "I am delighted at this opportunity to represent Oxford Brookes Law School working with Hodge Jones & Allen in coordinating Personal Injury Clinics. I have a keen and passionate interest in ensuring the safety, comfort and wellbeing of others in a wide range of contexts, and I feel these clinics will allow me to develop this further, whilst assisting my fellow members of the community in their time of need.

"An opportunity like this is invaluable for students to help us develop a holistic understanding of our clients, our interpersonal skills with them and with our fellow members of the legal profession."

To get in touch with the clinic call 0330 162 3888.