On Monday 12 September, a team from Debenhams Ottaway joined other lawyers, advisers and legal professionals for a sponsored walk around St Albans to raise over £3,300 to support free legal advice in St Albans and throughout East Anglia.
Under the banner ‘Supporting access to justice in the East’, 9 teams of walkers from law firms, barristers’ chambers as well as the voluntary and advice sector came together to raise funds for the Eastern Legal Support Trust (ELST) and other local free legal advice charities. Walkers were joined by Claire Sharp, Chair of the Hertfordshire Law Society and partner at Debenhams Ottaway.
The event is run by the Eastern Legal Support Trust (ELST). Formed in 2010, ELST raises and distributes funds to support the provision of free legal advice in St Albans and throughout East Anglia to those who otherwise would not be able to afford it. It is part of a network of Legal Support Trusts, working with the Access to Justice Foundation, which facilitate access to specialist legal advice for the poorest and most vulnerable people in the community.
The organisations supported by the event make a huge difference in the lives of many people. The recent cuts to civil legal aid have not only affected the legal profession, but have also drastically impacted the services provided to members of the public.
Citizens Advice St Albans is a local charity which provides a range of free legal advice and support in and around St Albans, helping some of the city’s most vulnerable citizens who often seek out their services as a desperate last resort. Citizens Advice St Albans participates in and benefits from the St Albans Legal Walk, and with services as under resourced as they are in the advice sector, every little bit of funding really can have a huge impact.
The ELST is delighted that the St Albans Legal Walk has had a good year with more people coming out to support access to justice for the most vulnerable and more funds being raised to support these vital services. Thanks to all our walkers, supporters and sponsors the ELST will be able to make additional grants, ensuring local services benefit from local support.
More information about the ELST and St Albans Legal Walk, including all the pictures from the event can be found on the ELST website.
The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.