UCL students step up to help Hackney youths

‘Mind the Justice Gap’ project is a joint collaboration between UCL, online magazine The Justice Gap and Hackney Community Law Centre. UCL students will begin the project over the summer and it will run throughout the next academic year.

UCL director of clinical legal education Jacqueline Kinghan said: “I was drawn to the project given its unique grassroots elements and its practical approach in determining what issues are most pertinent to young people in Hackney.

“The project goal of ’demystifying the law’ for members of the Hackney community is an excellent opportunity for students to confront legal issues on the ground. Students will learn, from a very real perspective, what tools communities need to achieve access to justice.”

Through the partnership UCL students have been charged with the task of creating a guide and holding a number of events to explain key concepts about the law.

It is hoped the project will promote an understanding about the law and how it is not simply something that young people come into conflict with.

The project was established by Jon Robins of The Justice Gap, and supported by former justice secretary Lord Bach, barrister Michael Mansfield QC and UCL’s new chair in law and professional ethics Prof. Richard Moorhead (2 April 2012).

Kinghan added: “We hope the guide might be useful to other young communities across the UK in learning more about their rights.”