A barristers’ chambers is launching a pop-up pro bono family law advice clinic—the first initiative of its kind.
Lady Hale, deputy president of the Supreme Court, officially opened Pop-Up@1MCB this week. The clinic will open once a month at 1 Mitre Court Buildings (1MCB), and is a partnership between 1MCB, South Westminster Legal Advice Centre, Children and Families Across Borders, and LawWorks. 1MCB’s family team will offer free legal advice on family law and related matters.
Lady Hale said: “Pro bono initiatives are especially important in the new landscape following the withdrawal of legal aid from most private family disputes.”
David Warner, supervising solicitor at South Westminster Legal Advice Centre, says the centre has seen “a marked increase” in the number of clients seeking family law advice since LASPO cut legal aid from most areas of family law in April 2013.
“Their cases involve such basic issues as access to their children, protection from domestic violence, housing and finance. They need but cannot afford proper legal advice. It can be heart-rending,” he says.
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