The crisis in the social care sector is well-known, with two million older people with an unmet care need, and more than half a million people on a waiting list to get social care. The law entitles us to the care and support that we need but disabled and older people are finding it increasingly difficult to get advice to help them uphold their rights. Access Social Care’s groundbreaking State of the Nation report shows this advice need is growing.

Our research in this area shows that one of the barriers to meeting this advice need is the lack of new practitioners coming into Community Care legal practice, and here at Access Social Care we are setting out to address this deficit.

Among our activities is the development of an offer to university law departments to support students’ learning and experience in this area. This will include online learning modules in Community Care, as well as training and supervision for student clinics. We are already working with University of York students. One of our participants, Esme Edwards said:

Get in touch

We are keen to hear from universities with an interest in offering this opportunity to their students. We want to shape the programme in a way that best meets the needs of students and institutions so that these lawyers of the future can make a real difference in this important area of work.

Email miriam.valencia@accesscharity.org.uk to arrange a conversation about how we can support law students with an interest in this career pathway.