The NLS Legal Annual Reports are yearly summaries capturing the work, impact, and development of NLS Legal, the fully regulated teaching law firm operated by Nottingham Law School at Nottingham Trent University.
Each report combines quantitative data and narrative about service delivery, including case volumes, practice areas, and client outcomes, with information on governance, funding, key initiatives, and partnerships.
The reports also highlight student involvement, intra-curricular activity, awards and recognition, and testimonials, offering a transparent account of how the firm contributes to legal education and access to justice.
2024/2025 Annual Report
We are delighted to present the 2024/25 NLS Legal Annual Report. Press the button below to read the full report.
2024/2025 Annual Report - Data and feedback summary
This section presents key data and feedback from the year, including case numbers, student learning outcomes, and assessment results, to illustrate the scale of NLS Legal’s activity and the educational impact of its work.
Graph 1 – Cases by area of law. Total of 325 cases. Employment (97) 30%; Family (50) 15%; Contested probate (7) 2%; Intellectual Property (39) 12%; SEND (9) 3%; Welfare Benefits (51) 16%; Housing (15) 5%; Personal Injury (3) 1%; Crime (10) 3%; Other (1) 0.3%; Business (13) 4%; Civil Litigation (30) 9%.
Graph 2 – Total number of enquiries received.
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Graph 3 – Financial awards received for clients.
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Graph 4 – NLS Legal student opportunities
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Graph 5 – Students by course: intra and extra-curricular. Total 739 students. Undergraduate LLB Final Year (357) 48%; Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) (23) 3%; LLM Academic Masters (36) 5%; LLM Barrister Training Course (BTC) (25) 3%; LLM Legal Practice Course (LPC) (18) 2%; Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) (41) 6%; Undergraduate LLB Year 1 (104) 14%; Undergraduate LLB Year 2 (134) 18%; PhD (1) 0.1%.
Graph 6 – Students by course: extra-curricular. Total of 438 students.
Undergraduate LLB Final Year (126) 29%; Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) (23) 5%; LLM Barrister Training Course (BTC) (25) 6%; LLM Academic Masters (30) 7%; LLM Legal Practice Course (LPC) (18) 4%; Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) (41) 9%; Undergraduate LLB Year 1 (104) 24%; Undergraduate LLB Year 2 (70) 16%; PhD (1) 0.2%.
Graph 7 – Success for All profile of NLS Legal students (undergraduates).
2024/25 NLS Legal UGs:
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Graph 8 – Success for All profile of NLS Legal students (postgraduate).
2024/25 NLS Legal PGs:
| 2024/25 All NLS PG Students:
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Graph 9 – 2024/25 student survey in response to the question: What are the most valuable skills that you have gained through volunteering at NLS Legal?
Leadership (4); Teamwork (17); Drafting documents/letters (27); Communication skills (18); Time management (14); Commercial awareness (5); Confidence (14); Organisation (18); IT skills (6); File management (5); Client management/care (13); Legal knowledge (21); Legal research (20); Interview techniques (11); Professional conduct (15); Listening and responding (23); Academic enhancement (8); Adaptability (9); Advocacy (7); Resilience (8); Other (0).
Graph 10 – NLS Legal students achieving a 2:1 or first-class degree, compared with total NLS student population.
NLS Legal students:
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Graph 11 – Students involved in activity for academic credit.
- 2018/19: 36
- 2019/20: 87
- 2020/21: 459
- 2021/22: 444
- 2022/23: 489
- 2023/24: 426
- 2024/25: 379
Graph 12 – Number of students by type of experience.
Client work (252) 31%; Admin & Compliance placement (10) 2%; Environmental Law Foundation Policy Clinic (11) 1%; Student Pro Bono Committee (7) 1%; Employer Challenges (94) 11%; Simulated module work (280) 34%; Training & Induction (145) 18%; Virtual Internships (16) 2%.