Urban Lawyers Launches Sheffield Branch
10th November 2016
Aspiring law students are set to benefit from a new initiative launched in Sheffield.
Urban Lawyers - which supports young people enter in to the legal profession from less traditional backgrounds - has launched its programme in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University's Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice (HKC). The award-winning charitable organisation, founded by barrister Tunde Okewale MBE, will lead a school outreach programme which will see Urban Lawyers training Sheffield Hallam law students to run regular law sessions at local Sheffield schools and colleges. As well as networking events with Urban Lawyers representatives, the programme will include interactive sessions about areas such as criminal offences, drugs and weapons, human rights, cyber bullying, and the opportunity to take part in a mock trial Tunde Okewale, founder of Urban Lawyers, said: "The launch of the Sheffield branch of Urban Lawyers provides a fantastic opportunity for the students to get involved with outreach work in the local community - as well as developing important and practical skills that they will have to call on should they decide to pursue a legal career. "Sheffield Hallam is a progressive University and they have shown through this partnership that they are looking to be innovative through the community initiatives that they are developing." View video interview with Tunde Okewale here. Chris Riley, principal lecturer in law at Sheffield Hallam University, said: "The Helena Kennedy Centre is delighted to be launching this very important partnership with Urban Lawyers, which has been spearheaded by its founder, Tunde Okewale. "The programme provides the perfect platform for our students to develop important skills whilst also helping to build regional partnerships and forge links with our local community. It is these relationships which lie at the very heart of what the HKC stands for. "Tunde's personal story is also a real inspiration and will resonate with many young people who might have already written off the legal profession as a career option. We are now looking forward to seeing the programme develop with schools and colleges in the Sheffield City Region."