Effecting Change and Addressing Inequalities through Community Based Research: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Access to legal services and pro bono community outreach projects have become embedded in the languages of policymaking and academia over the last few years, and community-based law clinics are beneficial in terms of ensuring ease of access to legal advice and consequent expansion of the number of clients served. The advantage of community justice initiatives is well established in literature and research suggests that they should be participatory, allowing people experiencing problems to play an active role in constructing the solutions. This makes it more likely that individuals will obtain the help they need for the problems they are experiencing, it increases empowerment and encourages them to take preventative action and seek help from competent sources.

In February 2024, a team of students and solicitors from Lancaster University’s Law Clinic ran an outreach clinic in Blackpool, which is one of the most deprived areas in the UK. The outreach clinic aimed to reach those most marginalised and disconnected from legal advice and assistance while seeking to understand and identify approaches to bridging the access to justice gap. This paper explores the results of this project, the opportunities, challenges experienced and how they may be overcome in future projects.