Nottingham Law School legal advice centre launches service for small businesses

The legal advice centre run by Nottingham Law School has launched a new service to support small businesses, entrepreneurs and charities.

Nottingham’s legal advice centre is an alternative business structure staffed by students, who under the guidance of qualified solicitors will now be providing advice to small enterprises on business structures, complying with employment law, intellectual property rights and terms and conditions to manage customers’ rights and expectations. The move expands the centre’s role as a ‘teaching law firm’.

Nick Johnson, director of the legal advice centre, said: “The number of people in self-employment is growing, as is the number of small to medium sized businesses, and legal costs can take a significant amount out of what may only be a small budget. This new service offers affordable access to initial legal advice on a whole range of topics, while also giving our students valuable commercial skills and experience.”

Professor Janine Griffiths-Baker, dean of Nottingham Law School, added: “The legal advice centre has been involved in a number of commercial advice projects, including the publication of two books on intellectual property, and we’re keen to grow this side of our service. The acquisition of an ABS licence has allowed the centre to expand and while our main focus is still pro bono, we’re now able to offer additional services for a small charge – with any profit going back into the work of the centre.”