Our Clinical Law Department handles a variety of work including clinical negligence claims (which comprise some of the largest personal injury claims in the country) and other issues such as mental health and consent to treatment cases. We also deal with regulatory work on behalf of the General Dental Council and public inquiries such as the Victoria Climbie Inquiry. Clinical Law Department lawyers have responsibility for their own caseload at an early stage, plus the opportunity to work with some of the best lawyers in the field on more complex and valuable cases. We ensure that all new recruits gain trial experience as soon as possible, working with a senior lawyer or partner. Members of the department also develop sub-specialties by conducting their own research projects, writing articles or lecturing. As a result, our lawyers are often invited to sit on high profile committees and are consulted on policy issues and new legislation. We also lead the firm’s 24-hour emergency advisory service. This deals with some of the most sensitive issues facing healthcare bodies, such as decisions to close hospitals and cases where patients refuse life-saving treatment. The work is intellectually challenging and in some cases without precedent, for example in Human Rights Act claims. We have, however, developed support systems to assist with this demanding role, including a database of 35,000 healthcare cases and an information manager system which stores useful precedents, articles and case reports.