Inspiring the Next Generation
QUB Students Gain Hands-On Experience Through Law Centre NI Clinical Placement
A Warm Welcome
Since 2017, Law Centre NI has proudly delivered a Clinical Law Placement for final-year students from Queen’s University Belfast. The placement gives students the opportunity to develop practical legal skills while gaining insight into areas of law not always covered within the core undergraduate curriculum.
This year, 18 students took part in a 10-week placement, gaining hands-on experience by working directly with our Anti-Poverty and Migration Justice Projects. Each year, our staff look forward to welcoming a new group of enthusiastic students who bring fresh perspectives to our work.
Owen McCloskey, Head of Social Security and Sinead Mulhern, Clinical Law Supervisor, mentored students during their placement, supporting them as they developed practical legal skills and gained first-hand experience of social justice law in practice. Their guidance helped students build confidence while deepening their understanding of how legal advocacy can improve people’s lives.
“With years of experience supporting legal education, we have carefully designed practical training and curated the Clinical Law placement to allow quick access to practical experience of working in a thriving social justice organisation. Students have the opportunity to contribute to positive outcomes for clients which can have a huge impact. We hope to inspire social justice lawyers of the future, and it was great to again work with such a committed group of law students.”
Under the supervision and guidance of Law Centre NI staff, students completed a wide range of practical legal tasks and developed an understanding of the importance of influencing law, policy, and practice to improve people’s lives.
Students gained valuable experience in:
- Drafting case summaries
- Conducting file reviews and audits
- Preparing written submissions
- Undertaking legal research
- Observing tribunals
- Shadowing advisers across our Social Security and Immigration teams
- Interacting with clients
Students also had the opportunity to observe Law Centre’s strategic litigation on behalf of a client before a tribunal of three Social Security Commissioners in a Personal Independence Payment test case.
“One of the highlights was observing the tribunal hearing and having the opportunity to interact with the client’s appointee. They were happy for me to observe and kindly expressed that they hoped I had learned from the experience. Despite the challenging circumstances, they were patient and generous with their time, which was a meaningful reminder of the human impact of this work. From a practical perspective, I got to see how the hearing is structured in real time, how the panel approaches questioning, and how evidence and submissions are considered.” — QUB Clinical Law Student
Law in Action
This year, students also had the opportunity to attend Stormont and observe Law Centre NI present oral evidence before the Communities Committee at the Northern Ireland Assembly. This provided valuable insight into how legal practitioners engage directly with policymakers and contribute to discussions that impact access to rights and support.
One of the Placement students, Alice, reflected on the experience:
“Listening to Holly Knox, Sarah Corrigan, and Siobhan Harding give oral evidence on the Universal Credit (Removal of the Two Child Limit) Bill LCM was genuinely eye-opening. It highlighted the very real and positive impact that the removal of the two-child limit will have in reducing child poverty across Northern Ireland.”
The visit also allowed students and staff to observe how legal expertise can inform policy discussions at a senior level, reinforcing the importance of combining legal knowledge, advocacy, and lived experience to shape a fairer and more effective system.
Final Day of Learning and Reflection
The final day of the placement brought students together to reflect on their experiences and learning. They heard from tribunal judge, Séamus McIlroy BL and had the opportunity to ask questions about his career. Students also spoke with Law Centre NI staff about their individual career journeys, gaining insight into the many different pathways within the legal profession.
Our current Justice First Fellow, Kristen, shared how the Fellowship enabled her to build specialist expertise in social security, employment, and immigration law while working directly with clients facing significant disadvantage. Through training, supervised casework, and involvement in strategic policy and litigation work, Kristen has made a meaningful contribution to Law Centre NI and has been offered an extension to continue for another year.
Students also heard from Roise, our Policy & Research Officer who began her legal training before realising her passion lay in using legal knowledge to influence policy. She now works within the Migration Justice Project, helping ensure people seeking asylum have a strong advocate.
Bridget, a Welfare Reform Support Advisor with Law Centre NI, also shared her journey from volunteering to becoming a key member of the team, drawing on her expertise in the social security system to support those in need.
The placement not only met but exceeded my expectations! I am very grateful for the experience and have learnt so much about an impactful area of law. — QUB Clinical Law Student
Closing Remarks from the Interim Chief Executive Officer
The day concluded with a meeting with Law Centre NI Interim CEO Julie Wilkinson, who congratulated the students on their contribution and commitment throughout the programme. Certificates were presented in recognition of their successful completion of the Clinical Law Placement, marking the end of a valuable and enriching experience. A video is available below.
Julie shared her thoughts on the partnership with Queen’s University Belfast, stating that:
“At LCNI, we are committed to inspiring the next generation of legal professionals. Our partnership with Queen’s University Belfast gives students the opportunity to gain meaningful, hands-on experience within a legal practice setting, while supporting the students to develop the skills, confidence and insight needed for a career in Social Justice. It is incredibly rewarding to see students bring fresh perspectives to our work while building the foundations of their future careers.”
“The work carried out by the Law Centre is invaluable, and its role in supporting individuals to realise their rights highlights how essential such services are in achieving meaningful access to justice. The experience left a strong impression on me, not only in terms of what I learned, but in recognising the real impact that this work has. It is clear that the contribution of the Law Centre is not just beneficial, but fundamental in ensuring that legal rights can be effectively exercised in practice.”
QUB Placement Student
