TODAY we ask you to give to our urgent CrowdJustice fundraiser: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/nextgenjustice/
Without access to justice, the most vulnerable in our society are denied benefits they need, housing and employment rights and more. In 2016, the Greater Manchester Law Centre (GMLC) opened because dedicated members of our community came together as volunteers to say: something must be done.
Now we need your help to support the next generation of welfare lawyers
Social Welfare Law supports people who are often disadvantaged and on low incomes and need a lawyer for their benefits, housing, mental health, health and social care issues. They depend on legal aid and on availably of welfare lawyers who can take up their cases. But against the back drop of a country wide advice desert, many law students are often not aware of legal aid, the problems around it, and the option of becoming a social welfare lawyer.
This is why GMLC campaign for a new generation of social welfare lawyers since we opened our doors.
And that is why we work together with students and have already trained many of them successfully.
And this is why we need now your support to continue!
As part of our Pro Bono Legal Advocacy Support Project (LASP) students from the Manchester Metropolitan University’s Law School represent people trying to get the sickness benefits they deserve. In order to do this, they need full training and supervision.
We aim to ultimately crowdfund £5,000 to match fund MMU’s contribution for our LASP project in order to continue to employ one person one day a week to run this programme from September 2018.
Please give generously NOW, so we can hit our first target of £2000 within 30 days: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/nextgenjustice/
And please share this appeal amongst your family, friends and colleagues and on social media – #freeaccesstojustice.
- Talk to your family, friends and colleagues. Tell them why you are supporting us!
- If you are on Twitter share this link: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/nextgenjustice/
- Retweet our campaign tweets over the coming days:
https://twitter.com/gmlawcentre - If you are on Facebook, post this link:
https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/nextgenjustice/ - Share our posts from our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/gmlawcentre/
We need your donation urgently, so this project can continue.
Why LASP is essential
The LASP programme is a supported and intensive programme for 3 cohorts with 4 students over 30 weeks over one year.
These students represent people at appeal hearings who are due to have their Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) stopped by the Department of Work and Pensions.
This is invaluable experience for aspiring social welfare lawyers as well as being a way to provide life-changing representation for vulnerable people.
The students are provided with high-quality supervision and training provided by GMLC. Under this supervision, they manage the client’s case and represent the client in tribunals. The students are taught the value of compassion and delivering a high standard of work.
Read more about the scheme here: https://www.gmlaw.org.uk/students-lasp/ and this article.
“Legal aid for these types of cases has been withdrawn and so clients would normally have had to represent themselves, some may not be able to do this properly, and without the help of our students, it is likely many more would simply have to live with the wrong decision.” – Emma Goodwin, Pro Bono Director at Manchester Law School.
Give and share TODAY:
https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/nextgenjustice/
Lord William Bach, Bach Commission on Access to Justice, GMLC patron:
LASP so far
Last year, Manchester Law School reported on LASP’s 100% success rate.
https://www2.mmu.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/story/5937/
“Getting to do all aspects of the case from meeting clients, to legal research to appearing at a tribunal means you get to know a case and the client. I was so nervous the day before the tribunal, I knew that either way the decision would have a massive impact on my client’s life and I wanted to be sure that I had done everything possible to ensure a good outcome for her. When we found out we had won the case, I almost burst into tears.” – Samantha Maher, former LASP student
