Press Releases pre-May 2010

The Legal Services Commission and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham have commissioned Edwards Duthie Solicitors to run a new, borough-wide, legal advice service in conjunction with Barking and Dagenham Citizens Advice Bureau.

The new service, which opens its doors on 4 May, will have over £2.2 million injected into it over the next three years: double the current investment into legal advice services in the borough.   

Operating from two offices in the heart of Barking and Dagenham town centres, the service will be easy to access. 

The service will also run advice clinics in various parts of the borough for those who find it difficult to get into town. 

To ensure that people aren’t referred and, therefore, deterred from getting the help they need, this service will offer all levels of help, from general advice to legal representation, on a full range of social welfare law and family problems.  It will deal with:

• community care, employment and welfare benefit problems, areas of advice previously not delivered in the borough;
• an increasing number of debt and housing cases, responding to the need for help in these areas of law; and  
• family problems, from relationship breakdown and divorce to domestic violence

John Sirodcar, a senior director at the Legal Services Commission, said: “This service will be able to turn round people’s lives for the better.  It could make the difference between keeping and losing your home or ensuring that you can regularly see your child after your relationship breaks down.

“I’m delighted that the contract has been awarded to a local firm and Barking and Dagenham CAB.  Both are experienced in delivering public services and both have made a commitment to providing high-quality services through highly trained staff and volunteers.” 

Barking and Dagenham Councillor, Graham Bramley, added: “I believe this service will be of great benefit for the many people who need legal advice and other related services, especially when so many have been hit by the recession.  Having these services under one roof will help make, what can be a stressful visit, much easier.”    

Legal Aid Minister Willy Bach said: “This new Community Legal Advice Centre has the potential to help over 7,000 people with their legal problems. People across the borough will be able to walk in and tap into a full range of legal services to specialist advice and representation in the highest courts.

“It is my absolute priority to ensure that as many people as possible can receive the legal help and advice they need, and the one-stop shop legal advice centre formulae is proving beneficial in helping thousands of people across England.”

ENDS

More information

Legal Services Commission
Pamela Judge, Communications Manager, tel: 0117 302 3150 (office) or 079 995 12823 (mobile)
Andrew Montgomery, Press Officer, tel: 0207 783 7218

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Martin Mallin, Media & Public Relations Officer tel. 020 8227 2559