Justice For All campaign launched to defend cuts to Legal Aid and not for profit advice services
Who we are
We are a fast growing coalition of almost 1000 legal and advice agencies, politicians, trade unions, community groups and members of the public.
Legal Aid is under threat from proposed Government cuts to advice services
Justice for All fears many people will be cut off from free legal advice as multiple funding streams are cut at the same time.
Free, independent advice is not free to provide. Even volunteer-run services need funding for management, training and basics like computers and office space. Local authorities are the most common source of funding for advice services.
What cuts are planned?
The Government is consulting on reforms to the Legal Aid system in England and Wales, set out in a Ministry of Justice Green Paper. The consultation is open until 14th February 2011.
Over half a million people will lose out on advice, according to the Government's own figures, as the legal aid budget is cut by £350 million.
who can get legal aid, by asking people on low incomes to pay more towards their legal advice.
The changes will also make it harder for not-for-profit advice agencies, such as CAB or Law Centres, to make ends meet. The lowest fees for civil and family law advice will all be cut by 10%.
Justice for All believes the government’s proposals would seriously damage access to justice, especially for the most vulnerable people.
Take part and defend Legal Aid!
Lobby your MP in parliament - Wednesday 12th January, from 2pm
Arrive from 2pm to lobby your local MP to support Justice for All.
Further information on the aims of the campaign, on the government's proposals and on what you can do is available by visiting Justice For All
June 2010
Law Centre solicitor wins legal aid 'Oscar'
A solicitor at Tower Hamlets Law Centre has won a prestigious award for her work with disadvantaged people.
On 26 May 2010, Kathy Meade was named Social and Welfare Lawyer of the Year at the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards.
Kathy was praised for “putting a human face on the law” and for fighting both high- and low-profile cases with equal determination.
Law Centres were also nominated for two other awards - Devon Law Centre’s Jean-Benoit Louveaux for Immigration Lawyer of the Year and Cambridge House Law Centre for Legal Aid Firm/Not-for-Profit Agency of the Year.
Kathy Meade with her Award (pictured centre) with her colleagues from the Law Centre's Housing Team
April 2010
Would you walk the walk
for your local Law Centre? Join us and help raise funds for the Tower Hamlets Law Centre
The 2010 walk will be held on Monday 17 May starting at 5.30 from the Royal Courts of Justice and ending at the Law Society.
The walk will be a similar 10 km route to previous years passing through the Temple to the Millennium Bridge, along the South bank and crossing to walk up past Buckingham Palace, round Green Park, returning through St James Park and Horseguards Parade, then along the North of the river to the Law Society where Allen & Overy will buy all walkers a drink.
Walk leaders include The Lord Chief Justice, The Master of the Rolls, the presidents of the Law Society and ILEX and the chair of the Bar Council representing all elements of the legal profession.
See Resources >>.
Immigration specialist advice project for sufferers of domestic violence extended across east London boroughs
Tower Hamlets Law Centre announces funding to deliver specialist advice to communities in Newham, Redbridge and Barking & Dagenham
Tower Hamlets Law Centre is delighted to announce that it has successfully achieved funding to deliver specialist advice services to vulnerable individuals suffering domestic violence and uncertainty over their immigration status.
Funded by the City Parochial Foundation, the Centre has received £57,000 over two years to extend the innovative work it has undertaken in Tower Hamlets to other boroughs in east London.
The project aims to build on the successes in freeing women from violent situations by the provision of legal advice and to develop links with other services to lift them out of poverty and social exclusion.
Specifically the Project will:
Target more complex cases in new emerging areas of law
Extend the reach of the project into Newham, Redbridge and Barking & Dagenham
Meet the demand for more advocacy work in the area of human rights
Focus on the increasing numbers of women subjected to violence who have children to secure resources under section 17 of the Children Act
Extend the project to men, women and children where disability in relation to mental health (which is taboo in some cultures), those with HIV, Hepatitis or TB, which exposes these individuals to bullying and violence from family members and others in the community.
Commenting on the funding to extend services to other boroughs, Sue Brown, Centre Manager at the Law Centre said:
“This money will have a real impact on the lives of many residents in the east London boroughs, through advice and assistance that will enable them to live free from violence and discrimination and by gathering objective evidence on the facts of their cases.
One of the major problems for individuals that wish to leave the family home because of violence is that their immigration status gives them no recourse to public funds. This can leave vulnerable individuals in a state of extreme poverty.
And it is not just women who are facing violence in the home. On family reunion children do not always settle into the new family environment and they can also face violence. We are delighted that City Parochial Foundation has agreed to fund this work to advise and empower these individuals.”
Speaking about the service, former Law Centre client Sahela Begum said:
“I was referred to the Law Centre with my immigration problems after fleeing domestic violence… The lawyer that took on my case was so helpful, he guided me through the whole process and explained every detail. He kept in touch with me giving me updates of my case and was very helpful even though I was so distressed. He knew exactly what I was going through and reassured me with the confidence that he was dealing with all my problems.”
“After just two months of assistance from the Law Centre, I was granted indefinite leave to remain. I am so grateful to the Centre for all the hard work they put into my case and will never forget what they have done for me.”
February 2010
Tower Hamlets Law Centre to walk the Thames to raise funds to raise desperately needed funds
Tower Hamlets Law Centre will walk 40 miles of the Thames to raise funds on 20 and 21 February 2010.
Md Derek Cox who has been on the Management Committee of the Law Centre since 1973 said:
“We are very pleased that our Centre Manager, Sue Brown, and one of our Housing Solicitors, Kathy Meade, have agreed to take up the challenge for us this year”
“It’s been a very difficult year for the Law Centre now that we are paid in arrears for some of our work. We are running short of funds and every penny of every donation counts - however big or small! I would encourage the local community and local businesses to get behind the Centre and to consider entering teams and raising funds to support our work”
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Watch the story of Maureen, who was inspired to become a lawyer after Brent Community Law Centre helped her campaign to make her flats safe to live in.
Here is Sandra and Robert's story, who married and settled in the UK with the help of Chesterfield Law Centre.
Feb 09
First Annual Thames Walk raises £6,000
On Saturday and Sunday Feb 14th & 15th fifty lawyers walked the length of the Thames in London from Erith to Hampton court to raise funds for London’s struggling legal advice centres.
The route with necessary detours is almost 50 miles long. The first half is all pavement walking while the second half is mostly muddy tracks.
Lawyers from city firms Mayer Brown, Chadbourne Parke, Hammonds and Taylor Wessing braved February’s weather with the students from Kings College Law School who had organised the walk. Numbers were increased by a large Lawworks team and students from Southampton University law school.
Julie Dickins, CSR partner of walk sponsors, Mayer Brown, praised the walkers saying:
“The initiative of Jonathan Charwat and the Kings College students in organising this walk is highly commendable and the commitment of the lawyers who have walked is outstanding
“We sponsored the first London Legal sponsored walk and look what has happened to that. We would hope this walk will also develop to become a major annual event bringing further, much needed, resources to the voluntary legal sector.”
Gordon Quilty, walking for Tower Hamlets Law Centre and personally raising 10% of the funds generated said:
"The money raised will make a big difference to vulnerable individuals, especially in this difficult economic climate. I enjoyed doing the walk and was inspired by the determination of my fellow walkers."
Funds will go to the London Legal Support Trust who support free legal advice in London and the South East.
The London Legal sponsored walk* will be held on May 18th starting at 5.30pm at the Royal Courts of Justice.
*The 2008 London Legal walk attracted over 3,000 lawyers and raised £360,000. It has increased walkers and funds raised x 10 over the 4 years it has been running.
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