Last chance to submit your questions to our panel | Our project with law students: finalists in Pro Bono Awards | Our day of action against Universal Credit evictions | Law Centres Network to challenge Ministry of Justice | Skydiving and running 10km: our fundraisers hard at work | The legal implications of the Grenfell disaster, 30th April
Last chance to submit your questions to our panel
In a few hours’ time, our panel discussion will commence: Legal Aid and the Future of Free Access to Justice, with Lord William Bach, Joe Mensah-Dankwah of Black Solicitors Network, Young Legal Aid Lawyers Vice-Chair Siobhán Taylor-Ward and Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon.
6-8pm Friday 20th April at the University of Law Lecture Theatre, 2 New York St, Manchester M1 4HJ. Registration at 5:15pm.
Your last chance to register: Click here.
Would you like to ask our panel about the current state of Legal Aid and the challenges facing the next generation of social welfare lawyers?
Tweet your questions with the hashtag #LegalAidFuture
Post your questions on Facebook here.
Or send your questions by email to development@gmlaw.org.uk.
Your last chance to register: Click here.
We do not just provide essential legal advice and representation in our community. We also fight for free access to justice across society. Please consider a donation to support our campaign. Click here.
Our project with law students: finalists in Pro Bono Awards
As part of our Pro Bono Legal Advocacy Support Project (LASP), students from the Manchester Law School represent clients at appeal hearings who are due to have their Employment and Support Allowance reduced by the Department of Work and Pensions.
We are pleased to announce that we are finalists in the “Best Contribution by a Team of Students” category of the LawWorks and Attorney General’s Student Pro Bono Awards.
Between January 2017 and March 2018 the team has taken 90 clients to tribunal, winning 52 of the cases and recovering in excess of £80,000 for clients.
Through schemes such as this, we support the next generation of social welfare lawyers, who in turn fight for justice for the most vulnerable. Please consider a donation to allow us to continue running these schemes. Click here.
In brief
Our day of action against Universal Credit evictions
We are proud to have supported Disabled People Against the Cuts, Acorn Tenants’ Union, Unite Community Union and the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People to carry out a day of action in Manchester city centre, demanding that no one faces eviction as a result of delays to Universal Credit payments.
We met on St Peter’s Square to chalk demands and slogans on the ground. The action drew to a close at around 2pm when we delivered an open letter to Manchester City Council.
Find out more here.
Law Centres network to challenge the Ministry of Justice
Changes are being made to housing possession court duty schemes, which provide on-the-day advice and advocacy at court to people facing eviction. The Law Centres network has been granted permission to challenge the Ministry of Justice over these changes.
GMLC volunteer Robert Povall explains the legal challenge. Robert has previously written an explanation of strategic litigation, which he says “can make significant changes in legislation, policy or procedure… by taking carefully-selected cases to court”. Read more here.
At our AGM last year, we declared our goal of challenging welfare policy through strategic litigation. Please consider making a donation to help us make real change. Click here.
Skydiving and running 10km: Our fundraisers hard at work
There are many ways to support GMLC. We have a team taking part in the Great Manchester Run, and last week some of our runners took part in the South Manchester Parkrun to prepare. See how they’re getting on here.
A team from the law firm Barrister Direct will soon be taking to the skies for a fundraising tandem skydive! See how they’re getting on here.
We are law centre run by the community, for the community. This means that we need your support. If you have a fund-raising idea, let us know at develoment@gmlaw.org.uk. Please consider an individual donation, click here.
The legal implications of the Grenfell disaster, 30th April
At the Manchester Law School hosted by the student representatives of the Honourable Society of Middle Temple.
6pm-8pm Monday 30 April 2018 in the Business School North Atrium, lecture theatre G.34.
“The event will commence with a talk by Pete Weatherby QC of Garden Court North chambers who has kindly agreed to share his thoughts on the Grenfell disaster and subsequent inquiry. We shall facilitate a Q and A session thereafter. This will be followed by refreshments and discussion between delegates.
“Pete’s practice is mainly comprised of public law, human rights, criminal defence cases. He is on the Executive of the Bar Human Rights Committee and a Director of INQUEST, the charity that assists the bereaved, particularly in contentious deaths involving state responsibility. Pete represented 22 of the bereaved Hillsborough families at the new Inquests which were the longest running jury proceedings in English history. He is currently in the legal team representing 150 bereaved and survivors of the Grenfell disaster at the forthcoming Inquiry.
“This event is open to students and legal practitioners and is free. Please register your attendance by emailing Holly Marie Saunders as spaces are limited.
“Please confirm you place by emailing Holly Marie Saunders (Middle Temple Student Representative) on: hollymariesaunders@gmail.com. You should make her aware of any dietary requirements and/or reasonable adjustments you require to attend the event.”
Dates for your diary
- Friday 20th April – Legal Aid and the Future of Free Access to Justice
- Sunday 29th April – May Day Festival, Mechanics Institute
- Monday 5th May – Salford May Day Rally
- Sunday 20th May – GMLC Fundraising: Great Manchester Run
4 things you can do to help Greater Manchester Law Centre
- You can donate and/or set up a standing order to help fund our key legal services
- Get involved by either volunteering, becoming a member, a supporter, or if you are an organisation, you can affiliate with us. Go to the Get involved tab on the home page.
- For those of you on Twitter, #whyweneedGMLawCentre or #FreeAccesstoJustice and tell us why GMLC is so important.
- Ask for a letter of support from your local councillor/MP/community organisation/trade union branch and send it in to us.
