CLOCK

Founded 10 years ago, CLOCK began as a research project based upon Dr Jane Krishnadas’ ‘Transformative Methodology’, listening to the voices of survivors in post-disaster situations in India to reconstruct their lives through a range of socio-legal strategies, informed by S.Krishnadas’s Social and Legal Information Centre and Human Rights Law Network which filed the public interest litigation against the Government of Maharashtra, transforming 4,000 lives (See page 107 of this PDF).

CLOCK is an application of the ‘Transformative Methodology’, listening to 'Voices of Experience'; a group of women from a domestic violence refuge, who shared their fears and proposals for how to support women going to court alone following the significant withdrawal of legal aid under LASPO, the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, 2012, to inspiring our ‘Law in Action’ students to become agents of change.

CLOCK co-created a multi-agency collaboration with the Stoke Family Court, law firms, mediators, the Citizens Advice Bureau, Domestic and Sexual Abuse survivor support services, to design the unique and innovative role of the Community Legal Companion to assist litigants in person though the court process.

The CLOCK Steering Committee designed and delivered a holistic training programme including academic, legal, mediation, charitable and court based training delivered by academics, court staff, solicitors, barristers, mediators and domestic abuse and sexual abuse support services to understand the complex needs of litigants in person, in a variety of civil legal issues to:

• Signpost for legal aid 
• Signpost for mediation
• Signpost for charitable services support
• Identify factors for vulnerability and exceptional case funding

And where legal aid and professional service are not available, assist within the remit of the McKenzie Friend principles to assist:

• Filling in court forms
• Arrange court paper work
• Accompany in court proceedings
• Note taking

Community Legal Companions are bound by the CLOCK Code of Conduct  and volunteer 2 hours per week to assist at the Stoke on Trent Family Court CLOCK Desk.