Sheffield Hallam University launches non-profit ABS

Sheffield Hallam University has launched a fully regulated law firm to give law students work experience during their studies.

It’s the first time a university has offered a law degree that incorporates legal work experience in every year of the course.

Students will undertake legal work as a core part of the curriculum in the university’s undergraduate law, and law and criminology degrees, as well as its post-graduate LLM.

SHU Law was set up by head of law Professor Elizabeth Smart with the assistance of solicitors Sally Mallinson-Ayres and Rebecca Draper.

All the students working at SHU Law will be fully supervised and trained by Mallinson-Ayres and Draper who work full-time at the law firm.

Smart said: “By placing our students at the centre of a live client clinical environment we are creating a unique learning opportunity that’s reflective of real-life practice. Sheffield Hallam is committed to providing applied learning opportunities for its students in order to help them succeed at whatever they choose to do.

“SHU Law will enhance their employability and graduate attributes in the world of work and inspire students academically and emotionally with the confidence to succeed. Legal education is nothing without a strong dose of commercial acumen.”

SHU Law is a non-profit alternative business structure and was licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority on 7 January 2019.

The University has converted one of its buildings into an office which includes a reception, interview rooms, call centre, back-office and lecture room where students will work on cases.