More support for people going through court alone as national online service launches at Nottingham Law School

Up to 120 student volunteers per year from across Nottingham Law School courses will be trained to support clients. This is in addition to a similar number of Nottingham Law School students already working on a hybrid (in-person and online) Support Through Court service for members of the Nottinghamshire community.

The volunteers can aid members of the public going through court alone by discussing their civil or family case, providing legal information, helping with procedure, court forms and statements, and accompanying people in hearings. They can also help to find local sources of legal advice.

Laura Pinkney, head of NLS Legal, Nottingham Law School's teaching law firm, said: "Many people cannot afford legal representation and have to go through court alone, which can be intimidating and stressful.

"Our students are already successfully supporting many members of our local community through the process at the Support Through Court Nottingham service, and we're pleased to be hosting this new Online provision so we can offer the services of our dedicated volunteers to people nationally."

Jorge Kemp, Support Through Court Online service manager, said: "We're excited to be extending our partnership with Nottingham Law School to expand our service and support people facing court alone across England and Wales. It's a pleasure to be supported by the NLS team and I can't wait to see what we achieve together."

The Online service is currently available through referrals from Support Through Court's existing services and will soon also be accessible via the charity's website www.supportthroughcourt.org

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  About Nottingham Trent University

  Nottingham Trent University (NTU) received the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2021 for cultural heritage science research. It is the second time that NTU has been bestowed the honour of receiving a Queen's Anniversary Prize for its research, the first being in 2015 for leading-edge research on the safety and security of global citizens.

  The Research Excellence Framework (2021) classed 83% of NTU's research activity as either world-leading or internationally excellent. 86% of NTU's research impact was assessed to be either world-leading or internationally excellent.

  NTU was awarded The Times and The Sunday Times Modern University of the Year 2023 and ranked University of the Year in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023. It was awarded Outstanding Support for Students 2020 (Times Higher Education Awards), University of the Year 2019 (Guardian University Awards, UK Social Mobility Awards), Modern University of the Year 2018 (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide) and University of the Year 2017 (Times Higher Education Awards).

  NTU is the 5^th largest UK institution by student numbers, with approximately 40,000 students and more than 4,400 staff located across five campuses. It has an international student population of 7,000 and an NTU community representing over 160 countries.

  Since 2000, NTU has invested £570 million in tools, technology, buildings and facilities.

  NTU is in the UK's top 10 for number of applications and ranked first for accepted offers (2021 UCAS UG acceptance data). It is also among the UK's top five recruiters of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and was the first UK university to sign the Social Mobility Pledge.

  NTU is ranked the second most sustainable university in the world in the 2022 UI Green Metric University World Rankings (out of more than 900 participating universities).

More support for people going through court alone as national online service launches at Nottingham Law School

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