The Law Centres Federation

The LCF is the national body for a network of community based Law Centres. Law Centres provide help in solving everyday problems, such as getting decent housing, dealing with discrimination, or obtaining the correct benefits.

The LCF believes that every community should have a Law Centre and calls for a national network of independent Law Centres to stand up for people’s fundamental and human rights.

Law Centres are members of the LCF and provide an independent specialist legal advice, assistance and representation service.

Law Centre news

• Record £5,000 awarded for disability discrimination
  At a hearing on 26th March, District Judge Weston awarded damages of £5,000. The case taken up by Disability Rights Worker at Sheffield Law Centre represents the highest level of compensation to date for a case brought under Part 3 (non-employment cases) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Sheffield_Law_Centre_Disability_Discrimination_April_2008.doc
• South West London Law Centres - Legal Aid reforms forces closure
  Changes to the way that Legal Aid is funded is having a devastating impact on the viability of Law Centres, Citizens Advice Bureaux and other independent advice agencies. These organisations operate in the charity and voluntary sector provide representation for vulnerable people. They are a small but dedicated band of professionals and volunteers who challenge the State on behalf of the vulnerable, using the law to hold the powerful to account and to protect people’s rights from abuse. They work long hours, for little or no financial reward. They work for you. And they are being destroyed before our eyes. South_West_London_Law_Centres_Press_Release_260208.doc
• Protecting Fundamental Rights - Telling it as it is…
  Protecting Fundamental Rights – the keynote theme of this year’s annual Conference – brought Law Centres from across the country together at their national forum to discuss how key social policies are affecting individuals and communities. As Chair John Fitzpatrick says ‘ we can tell it as it is. Law Centres are superbly placed to gauge how policies are impacting on the ground – we are at the centre of communities. This year is a crossroads in some important areas of change – including immigration and legal aid.
• New Director for LCF - Julie Bishop
  The Law Centres Federation announces the appointment of Julie Bishop as its new Director. Ms Bishop will take up her post on 18th February 2008.