Legal Aid Clinic
External Clients
About the Clinic
The Legal Aid Clinic is the practical training arm of the Norman Law School. As a part of their competency training and development, final year law students work on legal matters under the supervision of competent attorneys-at-law of at least five (5) years standing. As a result of this teaching and learning environment, the Clinic is able to provide legal services to members of the public with limited means while giving due regard to matters of public interest and of educational value to the students.
As an active client of the Clinic you may expect to engage with students under supervision, as they conduct interviews, gather additional information, assist with document preparation, complete research and attend court with their tutor.
Information for external clients
Client Information
Prospective clients are interviewed to determine the nature and type of matter, the assistance being sought from the Clinic and whether or not it is a matter suitable for the Clinic to undertake. All clients undergo a means test to determine whether they qualify for assistance from the clinic.
In general, the Clinic will only assist a client in the following circumstances:
- the client has not previously had an attorney whose retainer has not been terminated
- the client is not able to afford the services of an attorney
- the matter has not already commenced before the Court or been part heard and there is no substantive hearing that is imminent;
- there is an available attorney and the acceptance of the case would not result in the clinic surpassing the figure needed for the efficient instruction of the students;
- there is a likelihood of success with relation to the case;
- the case will enhance the students’ in their legal education;
Another factor for consideration is whether there are issues of potential law reform or development of the law.
The Clinic accepts general legal matters in addition to cases that fall within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, Corporate Area Parish Courts or the Portmore Family Court.
As an active client of the Clinic you may expect to engage with students under supervision, as they conduct interviews, gather additional information, assist with document preparation, complete research and attend court with their tutor.
Our purpose
Objectives of the Clinic
- 1
To provide practical clinical legal training through the development of skills and competencies necessary for a Legal Practitioner, in a real-world environment.
- 2
To develop in students a sense of professional responsibility, social justice and voluntarism.
- 3
To provide access to justice to members of the public who are unable to afford the usual rates of an attorney-at-law.
Legal services and outreach
Advancing our legal services and community outreach mission
Our legal services and community outreach mission is to promote social justice and strengthen the rule of law by providing quality legal representation, advocacy and public education, thereby imbuing volunteerism and service.
The Clinic accepts general legal matters in addition to cases that fall within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, Corporate Area Parish Courts or the Portmore Family Court.
In addition to legal services the Clinic hosts a legal aid fair and several outreach projects on annual basis. Outreach and legal fair activities are primarily geared towards public education as we seek to promote social justice and awareness of legal rights and obligations.
In recognition of their social responsibility each year students participate in at least one outreach project in addition to Legal Aid Fairs hosted internally by the clinic or by external partners. Outreach Project proposals are submitted by each Seminar group to their respective Seminar Group Tutor for approval prior to embarking on the same. Outreach projects are delivered under the supervision of a qualified attorney-at-law.
Clinic team
How we work
The Clinic is managed by a Director with a team of the following persons:
- Full time Tutors
- Associate Tutors approved by the Principal
- Administrator
- Legal secretaries
- Receptionist
- Legal Clerk/bearer.
- Students in training
Community engagement
Events
Annual Legal Aid Fair
Student Outreach projects
Specialty Clinics
Public education and stakeholder consultation forums – File photo for Disability Consultation session hosted by UWI Salises
Partnerships
Affiliations
The Legal Aid Clinic benefits from several partnerships which ensure that it achieves its mission.
- The Legal Aid Council & The Ministry of Justice as we host and or participate in various legal aid fairs and public outreach. Additionally the Director of the Norman Manley Law School Legal Aid Clinic is an ex officio member of the Board of the Legal Aid Council.
- The Office of the Public Defender- Hosts of our Human Rights Law Specialist Clinic.
- Design Privacy Limited- Presenters and co-facilitators of our Data Protection Specialist Clinic
- MOCA- Presenters in our Data Protection Specialist Clinic
- Maritime Authority- Hosts of our Maritime Law Clinic
- Faculty of Medical Science, Forensics Unit (UWI) – Presenters and co-hosts in our Criminal Law Specialist Clinic
- Administrator General’s Department- Hosts of our Administrative Law Specialist Clinic
Contact the Clinic
Contact Us
Opening Hours
The opening hours of the clinic are Mondays to Thursdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and on Fridays from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
New clients are accepted during the months of January to March and October to November each year.
Appointments for current clients are scheduled from Monday to Friday between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.
Location
Contact us at:-
Norman Manley Law School,
Legal Aid Clinic
Gibraltar Hall Road Building
18 Gibraltar Hall Road,
Mona, Kingston 7
- Telephone Numbers: (876)648-9140 / 648-5835
- WhatsApp: 876-503-8885
- Fax: 876-970-3581
- Email: legalaidclinic@nmlscle.com
Client experiences
Client Testimonials
All client testimonials
“I first found out about the Legal Aid Clinic through an attorney here who was very pleasant and extremely nice. Later on my matter was transferred to attorney Janett Levy, and since then all interactions were pleasant. I am immensely satisfied with the extreme care and attention Ms. Levy placed on my case; I am truly grateful that she was lawyer handling my matter
The process was long, but Ms. Levy handled my file with immense care and dedication. Every member of staff I have interacted with was pleasant, professional, and supportive. If you need legal help, I absolutely recommend the Legal Aid Clinic as they have brilliant and exceptional lawyers, particularly my attorney, Ms. Levy”
Special thanks to the Legal Aid Clinic who worked diligently with me. I am so overwhelmed with the legal services I also recommended another friend and relative to take advantage of the services provided.
Coming to the Legal Aid Clinic was a pleasure. I am pleased with their service. I will definitely recommend clients to the Legal Aid Clinic as I was truly satisfied.
I am pleased with how I was treated. The staff are wonderful people to do business with I would do it again.
I am pleased with the service. I hope and pray you will continue to help Jamaicans that cannot afford to go private. Thank you.
I came to the Legal Aid Clinic seeking help with some issues I was having. I want to say a big thank you to all those who participated in seeing to it that my needs were met.
I have been utilizing the services of the Legal Aid Clinic since 2016. The customer service has been good. Pleasant, and courteous staff.
I was introduced to the Legal Aid Clinic by a friend who had used their services. The staff ensured that the procedures were being followed and all documents are updated to finalize the matter. They show care and concern, also very courteous to their clients.
I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have people like NMLS in my life so I can continue my life after years and months of an abusive marriage.
Keep up the good work in helping others.
Attending the Legal Aid Clinic was a great pleasure. The service is great, the calm spirit and words of encouragement from the staff gave me the strength to go on. I admire the work ethic and professional way of dealing with situation.