A record number of students have successfully secured a place on our NHS Continuing Healthcare Scheme, delivered in partnership with Cardiff University School of Law and Politics.
Since 2007, we have been working with Cardiff University to offer law students the opportunity to gain real-life, hands-on experience of what it’s like to work at a law firm and how cases are handled.
This year a record number of students applied for a place on the scheme, and we were delighted to welcome 80 students to their inaugural session this week. This is the largest cohort of students to date.
Over the next seven weeks, the students will participate in weekly two-hour sessions with Lisa Morgan, Partner and Head of Nursing Care, Katie Morgan and Rebecca Morgan. Both Rebecca and Katie participated in the Continuing Healthcare Pro Bono Scheme when they were students at Cardiff University, and now work alongside Lisa in the Nursing Care team as qualified solicitors.
Each week, the students will be taken through ‘dummy files’ alongside their Hugh James mentors, helping the students develop key practitioner skills from retainers, reviewing of key documents, drafting and advocacy. The sessions, delivered online, will allow students to work in small groups and engage with our specialist solicitors. Homework will also be set each week to reinforce the skills developed in each session.
Lisa Morgan has been the scheme’s supervising solicitor from the start and is incredibly proud to welcome the latest cohort of students to the scheme.
“The partnership between the school and the firm provides students with real experience working with clients and developing key practitioner skills, while also allowing us to engage with the next generation of lawyers. One of the most rewarding aspects is seeing former pro bono students join the profession and forge successful careers – both within Hugh James and beyond.”
Rebecca Morgan, who works alongside Lisa in the Nursing Care team, participated in the Continuing Healthcare Pro Bono Scheme when she was a student at Cardiff University.
When asked what advice she would give the 80 students enrolled on this year’s Pro-Bono scheme, Rebecca said:
“The main advice I would give this year’s cohort of students on what to expect from the scheme is that they will have an opportunity to develop key practical skills which they will use throughout their legal careers and will help set them apart in applications. They can expect an interesting and engaging few weeks.
The scheme helped me understand the importance of client care and see how a case is run from beginning to end. I am excited to now be part of the scheme as a qualified solicitor which feels like a full circle moment.”
To date, more than 800 students from Cardiff University have participated in the award-winning Pro Bono scheme, and it has become one of the most popular schemes offered by the School of Law and Politics.
Hannah Marchant, who leads the Pro Bono scheme within the school said:
“We’re hugely grateful to Hugh James’ Nursing Care team for their continued willingness to provide crucial employability and pro bono opportunities to our students. They are extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic and passionate about their work, and are a source of inspiration for our students.”
