Elliott Moulster, a Trainee Solicitor in the Firm’s Regulatory Department, has been seconded to Nottingham Law Centre.  A post about his experiences during his first week can be found here.

During weeks two and three of the placement, Elliott had to work around existing commitments to his regulatory work, including time spent at the Crown Court in Newcastle-upon-Tyne for the beginning of a complex Health and Safety Executive prosecution.

Having instilled confidence in those supervising him at the Law Centre, he has been given much more responsibility and independence.  First thing in the morning he is greeted with a pile of files to review and progress.  The work will include

• contacting clients to discuss their cases
• chasing up replies from the Department of Work and Pensions
• corresponding with employers, medical practitioners and varius other individuals and bodies in order to take forward benefit claims.

One of Elliott’s more complex pieces of work to date has been drafting submissions for a client’s appeal to the Upper Appeals Tribunal. The case being appealed concerned a client’s request for Employment & Support Allowance.  This had been refused by the DWP and the First Tier Social Security Tribunal.

The Law Centre believed that these decisions were in error, and therefore were supporting their client’s appeal.  The point of law was relatively complicated, relating to EU and immigration law.  Elliott found this a fascinating piece of work to be involved in.

Elliott has also been conducting his own interviews with clients, albeit under the direct supervision of Diana Bagci.  For example, he met with a client to obtain instructions to draft an application for a Personal Indepence Payment.  He ascertained the client’s health difficulties and how his life was affected on a daily basis.  Such conversations clearly involve a high degree of sensitivity and professionalism.

Finally, Elliott has used the opportunity of working at the Law Centre to continue to be involved in the local community.  He has continued to help at the Law Centre’s local support sessions for the Roma community.

He was also invited to another community forum.  On this occasion it was to discuss the local provisions for those suffering from trauma.

Elliott attended as a representative of the Law Centre at a local community careers fair.  This was attended and enjoyed by many.

With two more weeks to go of his secondment, Elliott is keen to see what new challenges are thrown at him.

Follow this link to the Nottingham Law Centre web site to find out more about its work and to make a donation.