First charity-owned ABS

A small not-for-profit in Leicester has become the first charity to own a law firm. The Community Advice and Law Service decided to take the plunge and set up Castle Park Solicitors as an alternative business structure (ABS) following the government’s legal aid cuts in April. It plans to offer services to low and middle-income clients at manageable costs, and use the profits to subsidise its free of charge services. The law firm was set up with the help of National Lottery funding.