Novocastrians needing legal advice this summer are encouraged to tap into the expertise of the University of Newcastle (UON) Legal Centre at their Law on the Beach free community legal advice clinics.

Now in its 15th year, Law on the Beach runs for five weeks over summer, bringing UON law students and lawyers from their Hunter Street location to Newcastle Beach.

Law on the Beach gives last year law students and social work students the opportunity to gain practical experience towards their degrees as they work to help members of the community.

Law on the Beach is a student-run program and has provided free legal advice to hundreds of clients in a highly accessible and atypical setting. The practical program is one of the many ways the Law School develops experienced, sought-after legal graduates while at the same time providing a vital community service.

Director of the University of Newcastle Legal Centre, Shaun McCarthy said all members of the community were welcome to visit the legal clinic for free advice, but this year the centre was focusing on the younger members of the Newcastle community.

“Often young people do not have the life experience or resources to stand up for themselves in a matter involving the law. We aim to change that by providing a casual setting to have that legal conversation,” Shaun said.

All questions and cases are welcome by the legal clinic team, from traffic fines to employment discrimination and everything in between.

The Law on the Beach clinics are open from 9.30am to 2.30pm on the dates and the locations below. The clinics run on a drop-in basis, so no appointment is necessary.

Law on the Beach dates:

• 24/01/2018 – Newcastle Surf Life Saving Club meeting room, Newcastle Beach
• 31/01/2018 – Newcastle Surf Life Saving Club meeting room, Newcastle Beach
• 07/02/2018 – Newcastle Surf Life Saving Club meeting room, Newcastle Beach
• 14/02/2018 – Level 5, NeW Space, 409 Hunter Street, Newcastle
• 21/02/2018 – Newcastle Surf Life Saving Club meeting room, Newcastle Beach