New free legal advice clinic at Account3 in Tower Hamlets – first session 24 Nov 2009
Wragge & Co LLP is opening a new free legal advice clinic in Bethnal Green. The clinic will be run in partnership with not-for-profit co-operative account3, the Legal Advice Centre (University House), and the national pro bono charity LawWorks. It is being launched as part of a series of events to celebrate National Pro Bono Week.
Lorna Gavin, head of corporate responsibility, said: “Giving hands-on legal advice and guidance at the Bethnal Green clinic adds an important pillar to the delivery of pro bono advice at Wragge & Co. A good number of lawyers have already volunteered and are looking forward to working with their clinic clients.”
Open fortnightly on Tuesday evenings at account3, the clinic will initially run as a three-month pilot. It will provide free, face-to-face initial advice in areas of business law to not-for-profit groups and small businesses in Tower Hamlets.
The first session will take place on 24 November. For further information and to book an appointment, please email lawclinic@account3.org.uk or call on 020 7739 7720.
Toni Meredew, director of account3, said: “Without a Council for Voluntary Service organisation in the borough, the third sector struggles to get the business support it needs. Wragge & Co and LawWorks have come to the rescue with a unique package of really useful support, which we appreciate very much. The clinic will provide additional resources to the Tower Hamlets Change UP programme aimed at strengthening the third sector through a range of management interventions.”
This latest clinic is the second Wragge & Co has helped establish in the past two years. In 2008, Wragge & Co, Eversheds LLP, DLA Piper and Hammonds launched the Birmingham Legal Advice Clinic, providing free legal advice on debt, welfare benefits and consumer issues. Wragge & Co people also provide pro bono advice, assistance and mediation services to charities and supervise College of Law students who provide free legal advice.
LawWorks is a charity which aims to provide free legal help to individuals and community groups who cannot afford to pay for it and who are unable to access legal aid. National Pro Bono Week celebrates the range and impact of pro bono activity undertaken by solicitors, barristers and legal executives. This year it runs from 9 to 13 November.
Wragge & Co is a UK commercial law firm advising international companies and major public sector organisations on a full range of legal issues. It has offices in Birmingham, Brussels, Guangzhou, London and Munich. It is the only law firm to appear in the Top 50 Best Workplaces in the UK. This year Wragge & Co retained its ‘big tick’ status for eco-efficiency in Business in the Community’s annual awards for excellence.
To find out more about pro bono and corporate responsibility at Wragge & Co, visit http://www.wragge.com/corporate_responsibility.asp or read the firm’s annual corporate responsibility report.
account3 is a training and development company. It aims to support the development of local people through the provision of advice and guidance, training, enterprise support and access to resources.
