Law Centres Network
Who We Are
Law Centres are not-for-profit legal practices which work with disadvantaged people to transform their lives. We are effective because we are teams of expert lawyers, embedded in our communities and directly accountable to them.
We believe that defending the legal rights of the most vulnerable is essential in a fair and democratic society.
There are over 50 Law Centres in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, staffed by lawyers and caseworkers who specialise in the areas of civil law most relevant to disadvantaged people including community care, debt, discrimination, education, employment, family, housing, immigration and asylum, mental health and welfare rights.
What We Do
Law Centres help people to transform their lives. We offer independent, specialist legal advice, casework and representation through to the European courts if necessary. We believe in giving our clients the time they need to solve their problems.
Law Centres help to transform communities. We spot trends in our communities' needs and respond by educating people about their rights, influencing social policy, supporting community groups and organising collective action. We are part of local networks of advice organisations.
Law Centres help to transform society. We seek out test cases and pursue them all the way to the European courts if necessary. We campaign for social change in the interests of our clients.
What Makes Us Different
We believe that our combination of professional legal expertise and community accountability enables us to have the maximum impact on the lives of our clients, their communities and society as a whole.
How We Transform Lives
This is one example of the difference a Law Centre has made to a person’s life:
Mike had lost everything. The haulage company he worked for had gone bust and the lorry he lived in had been repossessed. Left with no home, no job and no hope, he planned to kill himself.
After ten days on the streets, he was put in touch with Cumbria Law Centre. At the time, he had just 17p to his name. The Law Centre solicitor got him housed and also arranged a grant to furnish his new place.
As a result, Mike started to feel much more positive and volunteered to help out at the Law Centre as a receptionist and handyman. Soon, he was applying for jobs. He credits the Law Centre with saving his life.
More Information:
www.lawcentres.org.uk
