SILKS Law Clinic
Free legal advice for the community.
Submit a Legal Advice Request Form
For housing, family, or employment requests, begin by completing the clinic’s
This lets the team understand your situation and respond appropriately, which could include signposting to the most relevant resource or an appointment with the clinic.
If you’re unsure whether your issue fits the clinic’s services, or you have a general question, you can email:
You can also leave a voicemail at any time:
+44 (0)161 295 6403 (24‑hour answering service)
If you’re facing issues related to housing, family matters, or employment, SILKS is here to help. Our team can support you in understanding your rights and exploring the options available to you, whether you’re dealing with challenges around divorce, family difficulties, employment, or housing problems.
Accessing good legal advice can be costly, and reductions in legal aid mean many people are left without the guidance they need. That’s why SILKS provides free legal advice to the community, ensuring support is available to those who might otherwise go without.
The clinic operates as part of the Â׸£ÀûƬ and is open during university term time. Client appointments take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with the option to attend either in person or online via Microsoft Teams.
All advice is delivered by qualified solicitors or barristers, supported by Â׸£ÀûƬ law students working under professional supervision. This ensures you receive accurate, reliable guidance while also helping students gain valuable real‑world experience. After your appointment, you will receive a written advice note summarising the guidance provided and outlining any recommended next steps.
Clinics and workshops
Family law clinic
SILKS Family Law Clinic provides free confidential written legal advice and support on the following and more:
- Divorce and Separation
- Financial matters
- Injunctions
- Private law children matters
- Public law matters
We offer appointments at our clinic on the Â׸£ÀûƬ campus, and we can also arrange online appointments through Microsoft Teams.
During your meeting, the solicitor will be supported by Â׸£ÀûƬ law students, who assist with preparing documentation and taking notes to ensure everything is recorded accurately.
After your appointment, we will send you a concise written advice note. This will summarise your issue, outline the guidance you were given, and clearly set out any recommended next steps in easy‑to‑understand language.
If you would like to request an appointment with us, please complete our .
Employment law clinic
Our Law Clinic offers initial employment law advice to individuals seeking guidance on workplace concerns. Appointments are designed to provide an early understanding of your legal position, help you clarify your options, and support you in deciding your next steps. Because these sessions are limited in time, our assistance focuses on outlining key issues rather than resolving complex disputes.
Please note that we cannot assist with matters where formal legal proceedings have already begun, including cases that are already before a tribunal or court. Our role is to help you explore the situation before litigation is underway.
We can discuss a wide range of employment issues such as:
- Unfair dismissal
- Discrimination
- Contract questions
- Workplace grievances
- Disciplinary problems.
However, some areas, including whistleblowing, are often too complex to be fully explored within the constraints of a single appointment. Where an issue requires more in‑depth analysis than we can offer during an initial session, we will explain this and may signpost you to further sources of support.
If you would like to request an appointment with us, please complete our .
Housing law clinic
SILKS Housing Law Clinic provides free confidential written legal advice and support on the following and more:
- Disputes with your landlord
- Problems with housing conditions
- Landlord failing to carry out legally required maintenance
- Tenancy deposit
- Threats of eviction or notices to leave the property
- Unsafe living conditions or concerns about health and safety standards
During your meeting, the solicitor will be supported by Â׸£ÀûƬ law students, who assist with preparing documentation and taking notes to ensure everything is recorded accurately.
After your appointment, we will send you a concise written advice note. This will summarise your issue, outline the guidance you were given, and clearly set out any recommended next steps in easy-to-understand language.
If you would like to request an appointment with us, please complete our Legal Advice Request Form.
Our service
Our qualified legal professionals and trained law students provide free written advice, information, and support on family, housing, and employment law.
Expert supervision
The service is delivered and supervised by qualified, practising solicitors and barristers at the Â׸£ÀûƬ.
High quality, free legal advice
Our students gain invaluable hands‑on experience, while you receive high‑quality, free legal advice overseen by expert solicitors and barristers.
Our students
If you’re a final year law student studying at the Â׸£ÀûƬ, apply to work with SILKS.
You’ll enjoy the opportunity to do pro bono work that supports people in real need, apply your knowledge and learn from professionals.
"I’m very pleased to tell you that I’ve been awarded a Major Scholarship which covers all my course fees (and more!). The employment barrister on my interviewing panel was particularly impressed by my clinic work and what I had to say about it, so I really will never be able to thank you both enough for the opportunity."
Emma Clarke, Law Student
Our clients
“I didn’t know what to fully expect from your service and I’d like to say what a positive experience it was. The depth you went into regarding my case was so informative yet delivered in a way that was totally understandable. I was so anxious about my situation before the meeting but after your advice and the non-biased information provided, I am feeling much better about how to approach my divorce.
You listened and personalised your advice and the confirmation you have sent over is excellent. Thank you for including all the necessary links so I can gain a full picture of what is required.â€
Family Law Clinic Client
"I was very impressed with the organisational and investigative skills displayed by the budding lawyers. They were attentive, curious, and confident enough to asked important questions that enriched the session. The advice subsequently provided was very detailed and useful, ensuring I was able to understand and put them into action. Although pro bono, the services provided would have matched any legal recommendations written by seasoned practitioners at a big law firm. Kudos to the students and teachers!"
Housing Law Clinic Client
News and celebrations
Shortlisted for the Best Contribution by a Team of Students at the LawWorks and Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards 2020
Teams of students from the Â׸£ÀûƬ and BPP University have worked together to deliver an innovative pro bono project to unrepresented employment litigants in the Greater Manchester area, with the active support of the Regional Employment Judge and the Manchester Employment Tribunal. Initially students undertook employment law training and attended hearings in order to prepare two Streetlaw information packages, one covering Employment Tribunal procedures and the other addressing what to expect at a final hearing. Referrals were then made by the Manchester Employment Tribunal and other third sector organisations to encourage the widest possible audience of individuals (who have either made a claim or who have a potential claim) to attend training sessions which are delivered by the students with clear and accurate information about the preparation required for an Employment Tribunal hearing.
Before you come in
Because we run on an appointment‑only basis, we’ll send you everything you need after your booking is confirmed. This includes directions for in‑person appointments or your Microsoft Teams link for online meetings.