Category Archive News

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LawWorks Pro Bono Awards 2020

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
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Coronavirus Update

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

Day Morning Advice
Evening Advice
Monday Benefits Housing
Debt
General Litigation
Small Claims
Consumer
Tuesday Family
Wednesday Housing
Debt
General Litigation
Small Claims
Consumer

 

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Family Law Advice During COVID-19

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

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Coronavirus

From Monday 23 March the evening drop-in session will be running a limited service, by appointment only. This is until further notice.

 If you want advice, please contact us using our contact form, email us at admin@legaladvicecentre.london, or phone us during the telephone opening hours below.

0203 606 0372
Monday & Tuesday 2pm – 4pm
Wednesday & Thurs 10am – 2pm

Our Monday Welfare Benefits, Tuesday Idea Store and Thursday Wapping sessions will be telephone appointments only. Please call during the times above for an appointment or use our contact form.

If you or anyone in your household has flu like symptoms or travelled abroad in the last 14 days, please do not come to the centre and call or email us for advice.

If we suspect you may have any of the possible symptoms we may decide not to offer a face to face appointment

NOTE – We may use video calling for example Skype to give advice during this time. Please let us know if you are happy with this rather than telephone advice.

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Christmas Closing and Family Clinic changes

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.

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Vacancy CLOSED – Trainee Solicitor

This vacancy is now closed.

Job Title Trainee Solicitor
Department Trainee will undertake seats in at least three departments, including Welfare Benefits, Housing, Employment.
Reports to Operations Director
Location London
Grade/Salary £30,000pa plus pension contribution
Hours Full time including some evening work likely to be required

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

Skills Good communication and interpersonal skills including good written and verbal skills
Ability to work under supervision and also on your own initiative.
Be able to prioritise workloads and work to tight deadlines.
Strong IT skills, specifically Microsoft Office, Skype, online legal databases
Knowledge and Understanding Awareness of current social welfare issues, policies and procedures
Understand the issues and requirements of working within a small multi-disciplined team.
Knowledge/understanding of advice agencies and other frontline services.
Desire to help develop the Centre by being flexible and willing to undertake project management and development
Some knowledge of housing, welfare benefits, debt and employment, or the ability to access and use appropriate sources of such information
Personal Attributes Efficient, professional and friendly service to clients and colleagues.
Commitment to social welfare and access to justice.
Commitment to diversity.
Demonstrable empathy with our user group.

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.

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We have been shortlisted for prestigious legal awards

The Legal Advice Centre (University House) has been shortlisted for the Law Society’s prestigious Excellence Awards 2019, the highest accolade for law firms in England and Wales.

The Legal Advice Centre (University House) has been shortlisted in the Excellence in Access to Justice category.

Law Society president Simon Davis said:

“There are more than 140,000 solicitors in England and Wales – to be shortlisted for an Excellence Award is to be recognised as among the very best of the profession.

“The firms and solicitors shortlisted should be commended for going above and beyond to support their clients, often navigating tricky and sometimes contentious areas of the law.

“With the justice system so under strain, we should take this opportunity to celebrate the incredible work solicitors do day-in and day-out – and to recognise the immense contribution they make to our society.”

Winners are announced at the Law Society’s Excellence Awards ceremony in London on 23 October 2019.

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Vacancy Closed Employment Caseworker/Solicitor

Vacancy Closed

We are looking to recruit an Employment Caseworker/Solicitor.

This role was previously advertised. Experience of providing advice on Domestic Violence is desirable, not essential.

Reference: 2019_BL2

Project Summary

Job Description

Personal Specification

Deadline – 17 July 2019 5pm

How to apply 

If you would like to apply for the role, please email eddie@legaladvicecentre.london with the subject “Job Application” and the role reference 2019_BL2.

Your email should include your CV and cover letteridentifying how your skills and experience meet the criteria set out in the job description and person specification.

If you have any questions regarding the role or the application, please contact Eddie Coppinger eddie@legaladvicecentre.london   

Legal Advice Centre (University House) is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications irrespective of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. 

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Vacancy Closed – Volunteer Co-ordinator & Welfare Benefits Caseworker/Solicitor

Vacancy Closed

We are looking to recruit a Volunteer Co-ordinator & Welfare Benefits Caseworker/Solicitor

Reference : 2019_BL1

Job Description

Personal Specification

Deadline30th June 2019 

How to apply 

If you are interested in applying for either of the roles, please email eddie@legaladvicecentre.london with the subject marked as “Job Application” and the role reference i.e. Ref: 2019_BL1 or Ref: 2019_BL2.

Your email should include your CV and cover letteridentifying how your skills and experience meet the criteria set out in the job description and person specification.

If you have any queries regarding the role or the application process please contact Eddie Coppinger eddie@legaladvicecentre.london   

Legal Advice Centre (University House) is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications irrespective of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. 

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Closed Bank Holiday – 6 May 2019

The office will be closed on the 6 May 2019 as it is a bank holiday.

No Welfare Benefit drop in, Evening drop in, or appointments will be running that day. We will be back to normal on Tuesday.

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