Nottingham Law School applies for ABS licence

Nottingham Law School has applied to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for an alternative business structure (ABS) licence, which would allow the school’s students to become part of a "teaching law firm".

The first of its kind, if granted the licence would apply to the law school’s recently expanded Legal Advice Centre. The centre already offers pro bono advice on employment, business, housing and IP law, but this could extend to other areas and types of experience with the licence.

The centre’s director, Nick Johnson, said: "An ABS licence will enable us to expand and further develop the excellent work our students already do. Students at all levels of the law school will be able to gain experience of professional practice in the same way that medical students currently do at teaching hospitals. Ultimately, our students will be working in a fully regulated organisation as an integral part of their studies within the law school."

For more on the ABS scene, read our recent Feature, “An alternative legal future? ABSolutely!”.