Law on the Beach is back for its tenth year of bringing the law to the community in an accessible way, in a relaxed beachside environment.

Run each year over summer on the sands of Newcastle Beach, the University's flagship, student-run service has provided free legal advice to around 1,000 clients since its inception in 2004.

Students, supervised by the University of Newcastle Legal Centre (UNLC) lawyers, provide advice to members of the community on a range of matters including family law, discrimination, employment issues, criminal law, illegal rent increases and house evictions.

"Law on the Beach is an initiative of the University of Newcastle Legal Centre that we are very proud of," Mr Shaun McCarthy said.

"Our students have taken on a variety of cases with particularly youth-focussed issues like rent increases and excessive or misleading mobile phone and internet charges and we have had cases with the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman about this."

Mr McCarthy said the initiative was developed as a way of reaching out to young people who may not know how to seek advice, giving them access to the law in a comfortable and approachable location.

"We see on average 100 clients each summer and by the end of 2013's program around 300 students will have been a part of the program," Mr McCarthy said.

This video explains how the University of Newcastle Legal Centre is vital to the community.

Law on the Beach is open to members of the public. All advice is confidential. No appointment is necessary.

WHERE:  Newcastle Surf Club, in the Club Room at the Southern end of the pavilion
                 Newcastle Beach

WHEN:  Wednesdays from 10am to 3pm
               January 23 and 30
               February 6, 13 and 20

For more information contact the University Legal Centre on 4921 8666