Finding justice through affordable legal adviceA steering group has been set up after legal professionals have prepared a report on the need for more legal advice in Newham, reports Peter Landman
People who need legal advice often can’t get justice because they can’t afford to hire a lawyer. Now help is on the way.
A group of law professionals with experience in housing law, legal aid, and public case work at advice centres, have prepared a report on the need for more legal advice in Newham. It was launched at the Community Links Centre in June.
Fieldfishers Solicitors together with volunteers and the Public Law Project have produced the report, From Disparity to Fairness, Legal Access in Newham.
East Ham MP Sir Stephen Timms has written the foreword in which he highlights the increasing number of cases brought about by the housing crisis at his constituency surgeries; There are ever increasing demands for affordable legal advice, which cannot be met.
He set up a steering group consisting of councillors, legal professionals and representatives of community groups to look at the problem.
Their report confirms the unmet need particularly on housing crisis cases. A main finding is that case workers often refer on to other agencies in the hope that they can give affordable legal advice.
The report recommends:
- mapping out details and locations of advice agencies
- offering locally based basic legal training at food banks, community groups and local libraries
- making more use of online training
- encouraging more legal professionals interested in public legal advice work to work in Newham
The organisations involved are considering next steps. For more information contact newham.legaladviceproject@gmail.com
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