LawWorks launches 200th Pro Bono Legal Advice Clinic
LawWorks is pleased to announce the launch of the Cardiff Employment Law Pro Bono Advice Clinic which becomes the 200th free legal advice clinic to join the LawWorks Clinics Network. This significant milestone for the charity demonstrates the valuable contribution solicitors across the country are making to some of the most vulnerable in our society.
Following a short pilot, the Cardiff Employment Law Pro Bono Advice Clinic will officially launch on May 20th 2015 at the Speakeasy Advice Centre, Roath, Cardiff. The launch event is an opportunity to highlight the service to the local community and encourage more lawyers in the city to get involved.
LawWorks Cymru has been supporting local volunteers to re-establish an employment law clinic following the closure of the Cardiff Law Centre in October 2014. Andrew Cross, Chair of the Management Committee, Cardiff Law Centre said ‘For nearly 10 years, the Cardiff LawWorks Pro Bono Employment Clinic was hosted at Cardiff Law Centre and a dedicated team of volunteer pro bono solicitors delivered specialist employment law advice to those undergoing a particularly difficult time in their workplace – typically those undergoing redundancy, disciplinary investigation, race/sex discrimination, non-payment of their wages would all find their way to the pro bono clinic. The launch of the new pro bono employment clinic at Speakeasy Advice Centre therefore represents a continuation of this vital clinic established 10 years ago next month’.
Martin Barnes, Chief Executive of LawWorks said ‘Our experience has shown legal advice clinics are an effective way to extend access to justice to a significant number of people. Last year, the LawWorks Clinics Network dealt with over 29,000 enquiries. While it is clear that pro bono cannot be seen as a replacement for legal aid it does provide an important lifeline to many with nowhere else to turn.’
Evaluation of the experiences of clients accessing pro bono clinics in Wales in the last year shows that clients gained not only a better understanding of their legal matter, but also saw reductions in stress levels and improvements in their wellbeing, mental and physical health, and family and social relationships.
Law Society president Andrew Caplen said: ‘I am pleased to see so many solicitors in Cardiff are getting involved in this important cause. As the LawWorks network grows to 200 clinics it is clear that solicitors around the country are coming together to support access to justice for those in need. The scale and scope of their work is humbling. From young families frightened of facing eviction to those seeking asylum from persecution, law clinics help so many people.’
The clinic offers advice to those that live, work or study in Cardiff and the surrounding areas and operates fortnightly, supported by around 35 solicitors from a wide range of firms, students from Cardiff University Law School and a volunteer clinic co-ordination team.
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Notes to editors:
1. LawWorks is a Charity working in England and Wales to connect volunteer lawyers both with people in need of legal advice, who are not eligible for legal aid and cannot afford to pay, and with the not for profit organisations that support them and their communities.
2. LawWorks believes in the power of pro bono legal advice to improve the lives of people in need.
3. For additional information about LawWorks visit www.lawworks.org.uk.
4. For more information from the LawWorks Cymru team click here.
Contact:
Valerie Hudson t: 020 7092 3952 e: valerie.hudson@lawworks.org.uk