St Petersburg University hosts an All-Russian Free Legal Assistance Day
In collaboration with the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, the consultants of the University Legal Clinic have answered various legal questions asked by residents of St Petersburg, the Northern Capital of Russia.
During her visit to St Petersburg University, Svetlana Agapitova, Commissioner for Human Rights, had a meeting with Sergei Belov, Dean of the Faculty of Law of St Petersburg University, and Viacheslav Nizamov, Director of the Legal Clinic of St Petersburg University. Svetlana Agapitova learned about the procedures adopted at the clinic and personally attended face-to-face consultations with the applicants. ’It is great that special conditions have been created to organise visiting hours for citizens and such an interesting practice for students. What is most important, future lawyers can use this venue to gain invaluable experience in communicating with people. Such experience develops their ability to listen, to delve into the problems of another person, empathy, and attention to detail. In future, when they become lawyers, consultants, or employees of the prosecutor’s office, the police, or the judiciary bodies, these skills will be of use to them. They will help them build a successful legal career,’ said Svetlana Agapitova.
Contact the Legal Clinic of St Petersburg University
The participants discussed potential forms of cooperation and agreed on joint actions in the future.
Since the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights helped organise the All-Russian Free Legal Assistance Day this year, it was decided not to limit the range of issues to the usual set of legal branches. Any person, regardless of their wealth and social status, could ask the experts a question.
This year, people most often applied for clarification of legal issues on: consumer protection; social security; and the legality of the actions of housing associations.
Viacheslav Nizamov, Director of the Legal Clinic of St Petersburg University
Traditionally, the University Legal Clinic has been providing free legal assistance to the following categories of citizens: students; pensioners; disabled persons; adoptive parents; and everyone whose income does not exceed two and a half living wages. Consultations are held during academic semesters. Under the supervision of their teachers who are legal practitioners, students of law answer questions related to various fields of law such as labour, civil, administrative, civil procedure, housing and social security law.
The action was supported by the interregional branch of the Association of Lawyers of Russia in St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.