We are happy to announce the launch our new Migrant Special Support Project.

This is a new model of advice aimed at providing specialist support for those whose first language is not English or those who have limited use of it.

The Migrant Special Support (MSS) Project offers a tailored service to the user. The MSS caseworker will make regular contact with these users and offer ongoing structured support via regular meetings. The support offered will include legal advice and casework, an income maximization assessment, assistance with personal money and debt management, soft training on improving life skills and referral to other services such as local colleges and ESOL. MMS will also act as a referring organisation to other beneficial services such as mental health day centres, alcohol and/or drug management programmes, women’s support groups and other similar services where appropriate.

The aim of the project is that the users will develop better life management skills through targeted intervention. It will stop clients repeatedly calling upon advice agencies by assisting them to address issues early before reaching regular crisis points.

Clients can be referred to us through our website at https://legaladvicecentre.london/migrant-special-support-project/ or by telephone 020 3606 0372.

In 2021, the Legal Advice Centre is celebrating 80 years!

More information on how we will be celebrating coming soon.

Badly treated at work? Use Virtual Lawyer to write to your employer. 

Virtual Lawyer is a free to use tool that helps you write a letter to your employer. It is an award-winning tool developed by the team at Monaco Solicitors who are experts in employment law and legal technology.

The tool is designed to be easy to use by everyone, not just lawyers. It helps you draft a letter quickly using paragraphs relevant to your employment issues. All paragraphs in the tool have been written and reviewed by specialist employment lawyers.

How does it work?

It’s a simple three-step process:

1. Answer a brief questionnaire about your circumstance at work: The tool will ask you a short list of questions and then recommend a selection of relevant paragraphs which you can include in your letter.
2. Construct a letter from paragraphs: You can read through the recommended paragraphs to decide which ones are most appropriate for your case. Simply drag-and-drop these paragraphs to construct the fundamentals of your legal letter.
3. Preview and amend your draft letter: Once you are happy with your selected paragraphs, you can preview the final letter. You can then copy your letter into your favourite word processing tool to make the final tweaks.

Virtual Lawyer is completely free and anonymous. There is no need to sign up, or give any of your personal details.

What happens after I write my letter?

Our users use Virtual Lawyer in different ways.

Some of our users feel confident about approaching their employer with their drafted letter. Others may approach pro bono services, like Legal Advice Centre, or other solicitors to get a second opinion. And others use Virtual Lawyer as a way to understand how employment law may apply to their circumstance, and then decide on an action at a later stage.

Can I trust Virtual Lawyer?

All of the content in Virtual Lawyer is vetted by lawyers who are specialists in Employment Law.

The tool is designed by a team of law and technology experts, who are enhancing the recommendations provided to you through the use of cutting-edge AI techniques and data science technology.

How does Legal Advice Centre work with Virtual Lawyer?

Virtual Lawyer is a tool built to improve access to justice and empower everyone to self-help on legal matters.

Legal Advice Centre is working in partnership with Monaco Solicitors, and provides important input into how Virtual Lawyer will evolve in the future to better meet the needs of the public.

I have some problems using the tool. Who do I contact?

Get in touch with the Virtual Lawyer team at communications@monacosolicitors.co.uk

I would like to offer feedback to improve the tool.

We always welcome feedback. Simply get in touch with the Virtual Lawyer team at communications@monacosolicitors.co.uk

In addition, we are looking for people who are interested in being part of our user research. In a user research session, participants walk us through their experience of using the tool. The session takes 30 minutes, and your feedback will provide us with great insights on how to improve the app.

The LawWorks Pro Bono Awards recognise and celebrate achievement in legal pro bono work, undertaken by organisations and individuals, and the commitment of the legal sector in enabling access to justice.

We have been shortlisted for three awards:

• Best Contribution by an Individual – Eddie Coppinger
• Best Contribution by a Pro Bono Clinic – Dracaena Webcam Advice Project: Dracaena Community Centre, Legal Advice Centre (University House), Charles Russell Speechlys and White & Case
• Best Digital/Virtual Pro Bono Activity (a new award for 2020) – Advice Portal

The annual LawWorks Pro Bono Awards will be livestreamed at 6pm on Wednesday 2nd December 2020.

The judging panel for the awards are:

• Stephanie Boyce, Deputy President of the Law Society
• Ruth Daniel, Chief Executive of the Access to Justice Foundation
• Paul Rogerson, Editor of the Law Society Gazette
• Adam Tear, Chair of the Solicitors Association of Higher Court advocates
• Chris Minnoch, Director of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group
• Koser Shaheen, Chair of the Law Society’s Ethnic Minority Lawyers Division
• Heidi Sandy, Chair of the Law Society’s Women Lawyers Division
• Yasmin Batliwala, Chief Executive of Advocates for International Development
• Mark Evans, Chair of Wales Committee of The Law Society and Council Member for North Wales

We are now doing telephone and webcam advice every week by pre-booked appointments only and we will continue to do this until we and the volunteer advisers can go back into the office.

If you want advice, please contact us using our contact form or phone us during the telephone opening hours below.

0203 606 0372 – Monday – Thursday 9:30am – 4pm

Do you still need Family Law advice during COVID-19?

We’re still open during COVID-19 to help you.

We’re still available to advise you while COVID-19 is happening, even if it means we can’t get to the office.

If you would like advice on your Family Law issue please contact us using:

• our contact form;
• email us at admin@legaladvicecentre.london, or;
• phone us during the telephone opening hours below and we can arrange an appointment by telephone or webcam.

Telephone: 0203 606 0372
Monday – Thursday 9:30 – 4:30

The appointment will be for Tuesday evenings so make sure you’re free.

Many Thanks
The team at Legal Advice Centre

Christmas Closure

Our last evening drop-in session for 2019 will be on Thursday 12 December 2019.

Our last Family law clinic will be on Tuesday 17 December 2019.

The office will close on Friday 20 December 2019.

We restart the evening sessions on Monday 6 January 2020.

Family Law Clinic is moving!

From 10 December 2019, the family law clinic will be at 104 Roman Road, E2 0RN.

Registration still starts at 4.30 and will be first come first served.

This vacancy is now closed.

The Centre is an independent registered charity set up over 75 years ago to give legal advice and assistance to residents principally of Tower Hamlets and South Hackney who are unable, for financial or other reasons, to access legal help elsewhere.

Job Description

A trainee with the Legal Advice Centre will be expected to provide high quality legal advice and legal services whilst demonstrating a commitment to social welfare and access to justice.

To achieve this, you will be expected to:

• keep up to date with the relevant areas of law and practice
• keep up to date with and to comply with the SRA Code of Conduct
• to attend internal and external training courses

A trainee will be required to complete at least three seats in different areas of law. We are currently able to provide seats in Employment Law, Housing Law, Welfare Benefits and potentially a secondment to a firm or alternative organisation. The Centre will allocate the area and length of time for each seat. As a trainee you will need to complete the tasks required by the SRA Practice Skills Standard and abide by the SRA Training Regulations 2014 – Qualification and Provider Regulations.

A trainee will be expected to provide an efficient and friendly service to our user group.

To achieve this a trainee will be expected:

• to adopt a professional approach when dealing with clients, solicitors and third parties.
• to adhere to the client care standards set out in the office manual and SRA Code of Conduct.
• to write letters and produce documents with a good quality of presentation in line with the Centre’s procedures.

A trainee will be expected to work as part of a team with all other staff and volunteers; we are seeking people who understand the issues and requirements of working within a small multi-disciplined team.

To ensure the smooth running of the Centre a trainee will be expected to adhere to the procedures set out in the office manual and amended as necessary. The Centre needs people who want to help develop it by being flexible and willing to undertake project management and development.

You will be expected to co-ordinate some evening drop-in sessions on a rota basis.

Person Specification

How to apply

Please go to https://jff.thelegaleducationfoundation.org/ to apply for the position.

Applications are now open, closing on 16 September 2019. Please do not apply directly to us.