News and Press

The latest news from Law Centres is published here.

Law Centre news

• The Access to Justice Foundation
  A charity helping to channel funds to pro bono legal work is starting a new phase of operation
• Management Development Programme October to December 2008
  Enabling participants to develop successful and confident working practices. This course is suitable for anyone who wishes to improve their skills managing themselves or others.
• £billions up for grabs as financial woes pile on the pressure
  Nearly half the population feel more inclined to seek free independent information and advice for help with their escalating bills or other worries than this time last year,1 according to new research carried out for the Promoting Advice coalition.
• Employment advisers underfunded and overwhelmed by cases of mistreatment at work, says TUC
  Hard pressed employment advisers are struggling to meet the needs of the UK’s most vulnerable workers, a new TUC report revealed on 23rd August.
• Parish Council discriminated against wheelchair user
  South Normanton Parish Council and its Chairman discriminated against Margaret Upton, a wheelchair user, Sheffield County Court has ruled. Douglas Johnson, of Sheffield Law Centre, helped Mrs Upton bring the complaint to court.
• Court of Appeal victory for tolerated trespassers
  Thousands of secure tenants who have had possession orders made against them by the courts remain in occupation of their dwellings. Social landlords are often slow to evict them, and can continue to obtain ‘rent’ from them as tolerated trespassers for as long as they are in occupation. But what happens when they leave? Merton Borough Council argued, and convinced the Croydon County Court, that tolerated trespassers should remain liable to pay their ‘rent’ until such time as they formally notify the landlord that they have left – whether or not they have actually departed.
• Cedric Stewart v ICTS (UK) Ltd
  Avon and Bristol Law Centre assisted Mr Stewart under the Legal help and help at court scheme from 19th May 2008. His claim for compensation for racial discrimination under the Race Relations Act 1976 was heard at a pre trial hearing on 23rd July. Following the hearing, an order was made requiring ICTS (UK) Ltd to pay £4,120 to Mr Stewart in settlement. The case was reported on BBC Bristol News on 10th August. The Law Centre commented: "We are pleased that Mr Stewart by his own determination and persistence achieved a satisfactory financial settlement after a number of lengthy pre-trial hearings. Claimants in discrimination cases often face an uphill task to enforce their rights."
• R (Faarah) v Southwark London Borough Council
  On 10th July 2008 the Court of Appeal gave judgment in the case of R (Faarah) v Southwark LBC [2008] EWCA Civ 807. The case concerned Southwark’s allocation scheme. Sedley LJ concluded : “..All the members of this court would wish to express their appreciation of the skilful professional service which Ms Faarah has had from the Southwark Law Centre. As the history set out by Lord Justice Toulson shows, the Law Centre, by careful and well-informed correspondence, was able to locate and challenge the precise error of public administration which this appeal has confirmed. It is of importance to the administration of justice, as well as to many individuals, that there should continue to be Law Centres like Southwark’s which are able to offer professional help of high calibre to the neediest people.”
• Avon and Bristol wins case to provide wheelchair access
  Discrimination worker at Avon and Bristol Law Centre assisted Mrs Corner who has Multiple Sclerosis. Mrs Corner needed a toilet accessible to wheelchair users during her stay at hospital. Mrs Corner had spent many months writing to the Chief Executive to discuss the situation. She said: “I spoke to the Disability Rights Commission who offered conciliation to the hospital but received no response and they advised me to take court action. The more I discovered about the hospital’s practices the more appalled I became. It soon became clear that all but one of the wards had no disabled toilet facilities.I did not pursue the case for myself but because I was disgusted with the lack of basic facilities available, the basic human rights for disabled people, abandoned by the area hospital." On the 11th July, the District Judge at Bristol County Court approved an order and the Trust agreed to apologise and pay Mrs Corner damages for her claim for discrimination and breach of human rights.
• Coventry Law Centre wins compensation claim
  Elayne Hill, employment specialist at Coventry Law Centre represented Ms Fletcher, a nurse who won compensation after being sacked from a nursery that had gone into voluntary liquidation.
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