Tim Eicke KC, UK judge at the European Court of Human Rights and former law student at the University of Dundee, is the clinic’s patron.

The University of Dundee Law Clinic (UDLC), part of the university’s Law School, will be run by students with the support of practising solicitors. It aims to provide access to justice for all, amid a challenging environment where securing legal aid has become increasingly difficult, while offering students hands-on work experience.

Judge Eicke said: “I was very happy to hear that the university was starting a law clinic and am honoured to have been invited to be a patron. The ability to experience the law in practice, to the benefit of those who need it most, is something I would have enjoyed doing when I was a student.”

The clinic will offer advice in areas including property, family and consumer law; however, it will not provide services in criminal law, immigration or professional negligence.

Rebecca Samaras, the university’s director of clinical legal education, will run UDLC. She said: “The law clinic will enhance our offering to students as they will be able to put their theory into practice, increasing their employability and career prospects.

“It will also offer free legal advice to the community – something that many people struggle to access because they can’t access legal aid and can’t afford to pay.”

Diploma student Harriet Hearns, 22, said: “Despite already having a variety of legal work experience under my belt, I believe gaining the exposure to a variety of new matters and clients’ issues will be invaluable for aiding me in my legal career.

“I am still very much open to what area of law I wish to practice in, therefore, gaining more hands-on experience in different matters will be extremely interesting and beneficial.”