Acting Director of Essex Law Clinic shortlisted for prestigious Family Law Award

The provision of family law legal services from Essex Law Clinic has been recognised by being shortlisted in the Lexis Nexis national Family Law Awards.

The work of Liz Fisher-Frank in conjunction with the Clinic has been put forward for the Community Interaction prize and is competing with law firms and barristers chambers for the award – making Liz Fisher-Frank the only member of a University-run project to be shortlisted.

Now in its 12th year, the Lexis Nexis Family Law Awards celebrate the successes and outstanding achievements of family lawyers.

Liz Fisher-Frank, Acting Director of Essex Law Clinic and Senior Lecturer in family law, said: “I am delighted that our family law community work has been shortlisted for this award.

"Our community partnerships remain a core focus of the Clinic, ensuring a collaborative approach to further aid student learning whilst providing a crucial access to justice role to the public.

“This shortlisting is a huge recognition of the work of the Essex Law Clinic team and the amazing student volunteers who give their time to help clients access advice.

"Demand for family law services remains consistently high and working with grass roots organisations to help people access advice is hugely important to the Clinic and the students.’

Students at Essex Law Clinic are trained to provide advice services direct to the public under supervision, gaining valuable knowledge, experience and skills.

Students also work in groups to provide presentations of legal information to community groups. As part of their work, they have gone into schools with staff to advise on family law issues in an effort to resolve problems or prevent conflict.

Students have developed resources for schools to disseminate to parents to help then communicate about family law issues.

Liz Pickford, Chief Exec Officer for Tendring Families First, an education-based charity working in partnership with the Clinic, said: “Essex Law Clinic has worked with us on a number of initiatives to help parents access family law advice and information in an effort to reduce conflict and resolve issues at the earliest opportunity.

"This is always so crucial for any children impacted by family breakdown. Tendring Families First would like to say how grateful we are to Liz Fisher-Frank, the students and Essex Law Clinic for this brilliant service.”

The winners of the Lexis Nexis awards will be announced during a special ceremony at the Park Plaza in Westminster on 27 November 2023.