Welcome
Establishing a Harrow Law Centre
The idea for a Law Centre in Harrow came about following discussions amongst a group of local Harrow people from a wide range of backgrounds. It was clear that the Borough lacked a specialist service that could provide legal advice and representation for the less advantaged residents of Harrow in the areas of law that affected them most – areas such as community care, family, housing, education, employment, debt, immigration, community care, and benefits. Such a service will dovetail with the existing generalist services provided by organisations such as the local CAB, as well as with local solicitors firms.
A great deal of work has taken place in order to raise sufficient funds to have a basic legal service operating by December 2009. Work will continue to expand the service and to embed the Centre into the local community so as to provide a permanent resource within Harrow.
You can also help by donating – click here to donate
What does a Law Centre do?
A Law Centre is non-profit making and independent both from the local authority and the Legal Services Commission. Any organisation wishing to call itself a Law Centre must be accepted as a member by the Law Centres Federation. This means abiding by certain rules for membership and ensuring that certain minimum standards are met.
All Law Centres have salaried staff, including solicitors, barristers and community workers. They also have teams of volunteers that give their services for free. They may include lawyers employed elsewhere, volunteer administrators, fundraisers and others. If you are interested in helping out at the new Law Centre, please contact us.
Advice is provided free and priority is given to work that affects the most disadvantaged Law Centres are specialists in social welfare law. This covers for example community care, family, housing, education, employment, debt, immigration, community care, benefits, etc. Law Centres can provide representation at Court and at tribunals.
Law Centre workers support and offer training to local generalist advice agencies, as well as social workers and community workers. They work closely with local agencies to ensure that there is no duplication of services. They take referrals from a wide range of organisations, including referrals from local councillors and MPs.
Law Centres work with local groups, such as lone parents or young people to explain their rights. Law Centres also work with local authority officers and councillors on the introduction and implementation of local policies. They participate in local forums debating local issues, such as policing and environmental improvements, feeding in the views of local people. They also participate in planning services and especially the planning and co-ordination of local legal and advice services and the overall community strategies being developed by Local Strategic Partnerships.
