Get ready to embark on an exciting journey with the Essex Law School, as we proudly introduce the new Business Law Clinic (BLC) that opened its doors in the 2023-24 academic year.

The BLC provides an opportunity for our undergraduate and postgraduate students to gain new knowledge in various specialised areas of Business Law that are not covered in the standard teaching curriculum and/or are observed from a new angle in a practical setting.

It also creates new opportunities to enhance the practice-readiness and employability of our Business Law-oriented students by providing them with transferrable skills such as teamwork, business communication, empathy, and many more highly sought-after skills by employers.

The BLC proudly stands as a vital cornerstone for both the local and University communities, dedicated to offering expert guidance, enriching education, and cutting-edge research across different areas of Business Law.

Our unwavering commitment echoes the esteemed tradition of social justice upheld by the Essex Law School and the Essex Law Clinic, as we passionately champion social justice through the lens of Business Law.

Social justice is understood as equality, and activities aim to alleviate inequality in various settings by:

(a) providing access to justice to those individuals who are disadvantaged in society, e.g., because they cannot afford legal advice and/or do not know how to access it themselves;

(b) enabling those groups of individuals without strong social networks to gain essential skills, including money management, and provide the knowledge and expertise needed to boost their employability for a brighter future;

(c) supporting organisations that serve the public good, such as local authorities, not-for-profit organisations serving the community, or for-profit organisations that are either means-tested or pledge to fund the work of the BLC.

Supervised research-based projects

In 2023-24, the BLC starts with supervised research-based work in four projects:

Tackling Corporate Plastics Waste (offered to UG students only): this project covers corporate and environmental law aiming to find ways to encourage businesses to reduce their use of single-use plastic in Colchester and beyond and thus benefit the local community.

Tax Project (offered to UG students only): this provides a unique opportunity for students to engage with tax law and create the first edition of the BLC’s Student Tax Guide.

LawTech Journal Lab (offered to UG students only): this focuses on how technology enhances legal services and the administration of justice and aims to benefit the Essex Law School’s student community via newsletters on recent developments in this area.

Trade Marks and Branding (offered to PGT students only): this project is designed to immerse students in the realm of trade mark protection, instilling them with the strategic acumen essential for sculpting the brand identities of fledgling startups and thriving enterprises. Their mission: to disseminate this newfound expertise far and wide, empowering the public with the keys to branding success.

The BLC now accepts applications.

If you would like to become part of the BLC family, apply now by completing the form via this link.

Applications close on 23 October 2023 at 9am.

If you require more information, please get in touch with the BLC Director, Dr. Andrea Fejős at this email address: afejos@essex.ac.uk.