Elin Meredith - Justice First FellowshipJustice First Fellowship

Host Organisation: The Speakeasy Law Centre

Elin joined the Speakeasy Law Centre as a trainee solicitor in January 2022 and will work in Housing, Debt, Welfare Benefits and Employment Law. She attained First Class Honours in law from Cardiff University. During her degree, Elin gained practical legal experience by participating in Cardiff University’s Innocence Project. The project aims to help people who claim to have been wrongfully convicted of a crime.

During her year long placement year, Elin worked as a litigation paralegal at Hugh James. This opportunity allowed Elin to work within a team of highly skilled lawyers who taught her how to put skills gained throughout her studies into practice. This role gave Elin practical and first-hand experience of working with clients and was an invaluable foundation for her career as a Solicitor.

Elin is very much looking forward to joining the Speakeasy as she firmly believes that everyone, particularly the most vulnerable in society, deserves access to good legal advice.

Project

Elin is hoping to use the Justice First Fellowship Project to look at the new Renting Homes (Wales) Act and how it will provide greater protection for renters in Wales. Elin will look to highlight the important new protections included in the Act and how renters are able to enforce these rights. Elin is hoping to run a legal clinic where renters are able to seek advice on the new law and take advantage of the new legislation. It is hoped that by highlighting the new law, renters will be more aware of their rights.

The 2021 Fellows

Adriana Matrigiani Aisha Khokhar Aisha Rahal Alex Feery Anisa Mohamed Camille Rouse Eilidh Turnbull Elin Meredith Hannah Frost (withdrew from Fellowship) Jennifer Gorman Karis Le Winton Lizzie Norton Renata Sweeney Shakila Rathukankanamalage Tamsin Hope Victor Buehring