- Family lawyer and law lecturer with a passion for legal aid
- Expert on professional ethics, legal systems and Brexit
- Multiple Law Society Young Lawyer of the Year nominee
- A director of our award-winning Law Clinic
- Former Chair of Trustees for Citizens Advice Plymouth
- Your inspirational thrice lecturer of the year
7 questions with Luke Fisher
6 min read
Get to know the lawyer, lecturer and passionate advocate for access to justice and legal aid
Transforming lives through pro bono
1. Who are you? And what is your passion?
Going to drama school for seven years, the plan was to follow my mum into acting. But at 14 I was told I was too tall and would never get cast. Obviously I thought, if I can’t become an actor I’ll be a lawyer.
I'm a legal aid lawyer by trade and fundamentally believe there are two types of lawyers: those who represent people, and those who represent money. I'm a people lawyer.
I'm passionate about helping the most vulnerable people in society who can't help themselves. So when the University approached me about setting up a family law clinic, I jumped at the chance.
And with legal aid increasingly being cut, I made the decision after eight years in private practice to leave. The University then offered me a permanent role.
I want to inspire our students. We are one people and unless we all embrace this and help each other, then we're not going to survive as a species.
I'm proud of our collective attitude to making a difference. We make sure that people get the support they need, no matter the barriers.
I am hugely proud of the Law Clinics. We've been shortlisted for the LawWorks and Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards every year since 2017, the only law clinic in the country to do so. In that time, we've won four awards.
2. What does studying law in 2025 look like? How does Plymouth lead the way?
The South West is the only place in the country where you can be a legal aid lawyer more or less 9 to 5, Monday to Friday.
There are plenty of legal aid deserts all over the country, particularly in the most deprived areas.
I think there is only one criminal legal aid solicitor in the South West under the age of 40, and none in Cornwall. It's an advice desert and there are so many people who need help and support and very few providing it.
In terms of clinical legal education at Plymouth, we believe we are so far ahead of the curve. Our students are not just getting one or two days of experience, they are getting months of it in our
law clinics
. Every single minute of it represents the student helping somebody who needs that help.
Students begin to learn all the skills necessary to be a practicing lawyer.
The feedback from local firms and recruitment consultants is that our clinic students are highly sought after because they've got more experience and are more articulate.
We get the balance right between chucking them in at the deep end and spoon-feeding them, maxismising learning and confidence building.
3. What is a fear you’d like to conquer?
I don't like the idea of stagnating. Things can always be made better. If something hasn't changed in a while it needs to be changed, so I am very progressive.
I don't feel like an adult. I never have done and I don't want to be one. So there is a degree of imposter syndrome sometimes.
I am very concerned about the way the world is going and it is only going to be young people that change it. Electoral turnouts among young people are poor because they feel completely disenfranchised. If just one of our students doesn't vote to make things better, we've failed.
Our job is to teach people to understand and become passionate about law and governance. If we do our job right we can help to shape an entire generation of young people to make the world a better place.
We contribute to discussions in the city about how to help Plymouth citizens – from the born and bred, to refugees. We support the annual Hope Festival. Our clinic provision has expanded.
We make a lot of effort to make everyone feel included – from our students, to the vulnerable and under-privileged they help in our city.
4. How do you respond when faced with a problem?
I'm uncompromising and, for whatever reason, feel I have the confidence to argue my case – whether it's lecturing on Brexit, or ensuring the vulnerable have a fair chance.
I stand up for what I believe in. I never walk away from any situation where I think somebody is using power inappropriately to take advantage of more vulnerable people.
I can be quite belligerent if I need to be. When I was a lawyer I was told I was a very good lawyer but I needed to pick my battles. I just pointed out they didn't know why I picked the battles, I did!
I meet adversity full in the face. I don't do or say anything that I'm not prepared to justify before a judge. I expect other people to do the same.
5. What do you know of that you believe could really change our world for the better?
I know we are all one people and we need to work together. I also know that most people don't realise this and that's what's going to ultimately impede us.
I hate the fact that the world is so completely messed up and we could make it better. I hate privilege. I hate elitism. I fundamentally believe in a meritocracy and I want to fight to make the world a better place.
One of the things I want my students to learn is that a tiny bit of their time and effort can completely transform somebody's life. I love seeing it when students realise they have a bit of knowledge that they can share with someone and totally allay their fears.
6. What do you want the world to look like in 10 years?
A global world. I'd like to see a proper global government. To see everyone working together to support each other.
Ultimately, if aliens landed on the planet and threatened us, we would hopefully realise we are one species and we need to stick together.
No one should go before a judge without a qualified lawyer, under any circumstances.
Legal aid lawyers should be paid like GPs. You can go to a private doctor if you want, but everyone can go to a GP. This should be the same as lawyers.
7. If you have the chance to share one message to the whole world, what would it be?
I don't believe anybody is more special than anybody else. No one has any more right to be here. We are all just making it up as we go along.
Connected, relevant and real
Coordinated by students and supervised by staff and practitioners, the Law Clinic runs a variety of pro bono projects and offers real advice and representation to clients, making a genuine difference to people’s lives.
Winners of the Student Pro Bono Awards 2019: Access to Justice Foundation Award
Winners of the Student Pro Bono Awards 2018: Best Contribution by a Law School