Development and Support
Improving Organisational Strength
Over the past few years, the Government has made major changes to the way legally aided services are provided. The introduction of contracting by the Legal Services Commission, for example, had a significant impact on Law Centres. The Law Centres Federation advises and assists Law Centres to take advantage of these changes, and to take up new opportunities as they arise.
The LCF tailors its services to meet the needs of Law Centres. For example, the LCF has developed a tailored national Management Development Programme and in 2009 launched a new Governance Progamme for Law Centre Trustees and a Developing Training Skills Course. Training and training materials on specific issues are produced and distributed to Law Centres.
For more information about how the LCF supports Law Centres visit: LCF Projects
Increasing the number of Law Centres and/or expanding Law Centre services
New Law Centres
Most Law Centres have been set up by the Law Centres Federation. In recent years a few organisations have converted into Law Centres and have been accepted into membership.
Developing new Law Centres is one of the most important tasks for the LCF. However, the LCF has not been able to set up as many Law Centres as it would like. This is because Law Centres depend on funding from a variety of sources – the Legal Services Commission, Local Authorities and independent grant givers. On occasions the LCF has been called upon by Law Centres to help them keep their funding when threatened with cuts to their services. Although most campaigns have been successful, the number of Law Centres has fluctuated over the years. Law Centres need to have strong management committees made of local people dedicated to seeing their Law Centre flourish.
The LCF supports local people in the creation of a new committee and advises on funding and on all the relevant policies and procedures. For more information about establishing a Law Centre, see ’Setting up a Law Centre.pdf‘.
Expanding Services
The Law Centres Federation supports the expansion of Law Centre services. This may be in the taking up of new areas of law where the LCF provides information and training, or focusing services on, for example, young or disabled people. The LCF has led the sector in providing tailor made services for young people with specialist services in the Streetlegal Law Centre and the Streetwise Law Centre in London. The LCF works closely with Youth Access and helped establish the London Youth Advice Forum.
In 2005, LCF secured funding from the Disability Rights Commission to fund 14 Disability Rights posts in Law Centres throughout the country. Their work includes raising awareness of legislation and taking up individual cases under Part 111 of the Disability Discrimination Act concerning access to goods and services.
The LCF is developing its role as a fundraiser for the whole movement and assists individual Law Centres with funding bids.
Networking and Sharing Good Practice
The LCF encourages Law Centres to work together and has set up regional forums where information is shared. They provide the opportunity for Law Centres to work together and for example, make joint funding bids. Regional forums exist in the East Midlands, London, the North and North East, the North West and South West.
Representing Law Centres and their clients
The LCF represents Law Centres at many national and regional meetings where legal and advice services are being discussed. These include meetings with the Legal Services Commission on subjects such as quality standards or the introduction of Community Legal Advice Centres and Community Legal Advice Networks. Meetings are held with members of the other advice networks, for example, at the Advice Services Alliance meetings, Shelter and AdviceUK and with the professional body representing solicitors, the Law Society. The LCF also works closely with the Legal Aid Practitioners Group and Legal Action.
