SOAS LLB/BA, LLM/MA Law Clinics and Placements

SOAS School of Law, Gender and Media offers students experiential learning opportunities through placements in different areas of law such as asylum and immigration law, discrimination law, benefits law, and environmental law. 

It is increasingly important in legal education to give students the opportunity to gain exposure to the practical application of the law whilst studying on the LLB or BA in Law.  At SOAS, we have a strong commitment to social justice, equity and global perspectives. We have therefore partnered with legal practitioners and industry experts to enable our students in their second and third years to develop their legal skills and knowledge across a range of areas of law. Through our clinical education programme, students have an opportunity to enhance their employability by gaining practical experience and taking ‘a law-in-action’ approach to their learning.  

We believe that by promoting and facilitating our students’ access to experience the law in practice, the School of Law is fostering equality, equity, diversity, and an appreciation of difference – not just on campus, but also in the wider community. We are proud to be associated with causes promoting access to justice and the rule of law. 

The opportunities we currently offer our students are dependent on availability and are subject to change. 

The SOAS School of Law offers placements for law students taking the modules Asylum and Immigration Law (UG), International Refugee law (PG) and International Migration (PG) to volunteer with BID. Students engage with people currently being held in immigration detention centres and prisons in the UK to provide support and facilitate migrants’ access to justice.  

“It is always a pleasure to work with students from SOAS University; their contribution to BID and our clients has been invaluable. SOAS students bring, without exception, a wealth of knowledge, skills, and experience to our organisation. Their dedication and commitment to justice and human rights are evident in everything they do, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work alongside them."  

- BID Legal Manager

Each academic year, five students are placed under the supervision of a team of barristers and solicitors at the University of London Refugee Law Clinic to provide legal advice to failed asylum seekers to re-construct further submissions of their asylum claims. 

“I've loved my time working with the Refugee Law Clinic! I appreciated the hands-on training, especially the legal drafting workshop which gave us guidance on drafting witness statements, letters to experts and applications for leave to remain. There are also plenty of possibilities to get involved: I became OISC L1 accredited, presented at the Refugee Law Initiative Annual Conference, and interned at the clinic over the summer. 

"Besides all the learning opportunities, what really animated my experience was being able to get to know and build relationships with other volunteers, the clinic manager and supervising lawyers and our clients.”  

- Student participant

The SOAS School of Law in partnership with the Pro Bono community creates opportunities for students to receive training and take up placements in legal advice centres – primarily Citizens Advice Bureaus dealing with housing and benefits law. 

“Volunteering with the Pro-Bono Community is something I am very proud to have done. I was placed within the information and advice team at Age UK Islington. I was able to assist clients in directing them towards grants and benefits that can help them with their current difficulties. 

"It gave me a great insight into the charity sector which I wish to further explore in my career."  

- Student participant

As as part of the ELF (Environmental Law Foundation) network of universities, SOAS runs a SOAS/ELF environmental policy clinic where students assist ELF in its policy campaign work. For instance, urging local authorities in the UK to act on their climate emergency declarations. The Clinic works with students on public interest cases and research projects which aim to protect the environment and promote human rights. 

This clinic provides students with the opportunity to build on their research, writing and policy advocacy skills. 

Read about how a group of law students from SOAS University of London has successfully completed a pro bono project mapping the presence of UK-protected species along the River Ouse in Sussex.

As part of the Environmental Law Clinic, SOAS has developed a partnership with Lawyers for Nature to deliver joint projects. One of our projects is focused on providing insight into the various Representation Models for Nature that have been utilized in pursuit of recognizing the rights of Nature around the world. 

Often, these models of representation have presented themselves in the form of a Guardianship, such as in New Zealand or Spain. The current project stands as the second part of a three-part project at Lawyers for Nature. The first provided a comprehensive overview of the variety of legal instruments utilized for recognizing the rights of Nature. 

SOAS students from both postgraduate and graduate programmes can participate in the projects. These students will provide key insights into several different case studies, which will be useful for lawyers, academics, campaigners, and many others. 

The SOAS Detention Law Clinic is being established in partnership with Wilsons Solicitors. The Clinic aims to have a profound impact on the lives of migrants held under immigration powers, in immigration removal centres or prisons by providing much-needed legal advice on their right to liberty. The Clinic will also expose students to the practical application of law and enable them to use their legal knowledge to respond to real-life issues. 

It will add value to the student experience by developing professionally relevant skills in students, whilst promoting social justice.  The Clinic aims to train students to close the gap in legal advice with a view to enabling immigration detainees to exercise their rights effectively.  

Immigration detainees held in immigration removal centres and primarily in prisons face major barriers to exercising their rights and accessing justice. The Clinic will benefit vulnerable individuals by improving their access to justice and promoting the rule of law.  

The SOAS Detention Law Clinic will be open for student enrolments in 2024/25.