UK’s first Law Centre celebrates 40 years

North Kensington was the UK’s first Law Centre. There are now over 50 Law Centres in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, providing free independent legal advice and representation to disadvantaged people.

Speaking at the event, co-founder Lord Gifford praised the Law Centre for securing landmark legal safeguards for vulnerable people such as the right for tenants facing eviction to have legal representation in the county court. These safeguards have become a permanent feature of the civil and criminal justice system.

When the Law Centre was founded in 1970, there was little legal protection for poor and disadvantaged people. Commenting on the lack of available legal services for deprived areas at the time Lord Gifford said:

“What we started at North Kensington Law Centre has become part of a revolution in the way law is practised…The Law Centre is still reaching the parts that others cannot reach because of its commitment to its community.”

“North Kensington Law Centre represented the crystallisation of local initiatives by members of the community aimed at providing legal services with a social perspective which met the needs of deprived areas.”

Lord Gifford also attacked the current threats to legal aid following the reforms introduced by the Legal Services Commission and cuts in funding by central government. Commenting on the pressures of fixed fees he said:

“Access to justice must be supported by properly resourced advice services to enable the most vulnerable to enforce their rights. Access to justice is bereft of meaning without the tools to achieve it.”

The meeting also heard from founder staff member Peter Kandler who was instrumental in setting up the centre in 1970. Kandler was responsible for pioneering the right for defendants to be legally represented whilst in police custody, later incorporated into legislation through PACE 1984. Mr Kandler said:

“At a time when no funding was available for solicitors to attend suspects held in police custody, this pioneering work later became an established feature of our criminal justice system.”

North Kensington Law Centre helps almost 3,000 local people every year with problems such as housing eviction, unfair dismissal, discrimination and exclusion from school. Its services are more needed than ever - the number of homeless people needing help increased by 16 per cent last year.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
Key contact: Sean Canning, Director, North Kensington Law Centre 0208 206 5715 or 07960 589098.