One year on: LSE’s student-led Homelessness Legal Clinic makes a huge difference
Since launching in October 2025, the LSE Homelessness Legal Clinic has supported 20 vulnerable young people aged 18 to 24, helping at least eight secure offers of accommodation as a direct result of representations by LSE students.
Many of the young people supported by the Clinic are sleeping rough while others are sofa surfing, living in their cars or at immediate risk of losing a place to stay.
As part of the Clinic, which was established in partnership with homelessness charities Shelter and Centrepoint, 18 specially trained LSE student volunteers provide legal advice and representation to young people facing homelessness, working under the close supervision of specialist lawyers from Shelter.
Together, they challenge unlawful decisions, advocate for vulnerable clients, and help ensure that young people's legal rights are respected.
Case study
When Sameeya* called the Centrepoint Helpline she was 30 weeks’ pregnant and sleeping on the floor of a friend’s house. Her friend had asked her to leave within the next 5 days. She had been assessed by the local authority in September 2025 and as a pregnant woman would have been automatically in ‘priority need’ for housing. Despite this, Sameeya had not been provided with a written decision nor had she received any contact from them since the assessment. Sameeya received legal advice on 21 November 2025 and an urgent letter of representation was sent to the local authority. On 2 December 2025 Sameeya was offered temporary accommodation.
*Name has been changed to protect identity
The students work on a rota enabling them to respond to urgent referrals within 48 hours. As part of their work, they receive training in professionalism, confidentiality, legal research, drafting and trauma-informed interviewing. They also take part in bespoke training from Centrepoint and partake in a specialist housing law masterclass, ensuring their work is carried out to a high standard.
Why is this work needed? A 2025 briefing by the charity Centrepoint highlighted that over a third of young people were turned away by their local council without any assessment of their legal rights. Councils must assess anyone who approaches them as homeless or at risk of homelessness, whether or not they are found to be in priority need. Where that does not happen - a practice known as gatekeeping - young people are shut out of support they are legally entitled to. The Clinic was designed specifically to intervene at this point of crisis.
In April 2026, the Clinic was shortlisted for Best New Pro Bono Activity at the LawWorks and Attorney General’s Student Pro Bono Awards.
Commenting on the success of the Clinic, Director of the LSE Legal Advice Centre Diana Kirsch said: “We are incredibly proud to be celebrating the first anniversary of the Homelessness Legal Clinic. Our partnership with Centrepoint and Shelter has enabled us to provide valuable support to people facing some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable, while creating an exceptional learning opportunity for our students.
“It has been wonderful to see the positive impact the clinic has had in such a short time. The service has proved to be a lifeline for vulnerable young people, and I have been continually impressed by the commitment, compassion and professionalism shown by our students.”
Pascale Genee, a third-year Law student who helps at the Clinic said: “Volunteering at the LSE Homelessness Clinic has been incredibly meaningful. Putting my legal skills towards making a real-world impact is exactly the kind of change I want to use my degree for, I’m really thankful for the opportunity to get involved. Learning from the team at both the Clinic and Shelter has really inspired my understanding of what legal practice can look like.”
Many students involved with the Clinic describe the experience as transformative, deepening their understanding of homelessness and shaping their future aspirations. They value the opportunity to help clients tell their stories, navigate complex legal systems and assert their rights with confidence and dignity. Their commitment continues after the interview, with students following up with local authorities to ensure representations are acknowledged and acted upon.
Grace Wilson, a third-year Law student involved with the Clinic said: “I'm a firm believer that practice makes perfect when it comes to being client-facing, and the Homelessness Clinic, through its engagement with the most vulnerable individuals, allowed me to put that into practice. You cannot access this kind of practice, informing your future career as a lawyer, anywhere else.”
Centrepoint helpline advice worker Ethan said:''The introduction of the Legal Clinic has strengthened the helpline’s ability to challenge local authorities’ gatekeeping practices and further advocate for vulnerable young people who have a legal right to support. I’m proud that we can now offer young people this additional level of support when navigating what can otherwise be a difficult and frustrating process.”