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Law Centre celebrates 30th Anniversary

24 October 2006

Coventry Law Centre is 30 years old this year, and, at its Birthday Celebration on Thursday 26th October, its guest of honour will be Vera Baird QC MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of Constitutional Affairs with responsibility for legal aid.

Founded in 1976, the Law Centre originally operated from a house in Primrose Hill Street in Hillfields. It was funded by Coventry City Council, and the Council has continued to fund it each year until the present day.

Coventry Law Centre now has offices in Broadgate in the city centre, and provides legal advice and representation to those on low incomes, in areas of law such as housing, health and community care, human rights, discrimination, welfare rights, as well as employment and education and public law issues.

During its 30 years it has:

• - Provided advice and information to over 250,000 people
• - Worked on 60,000 cases
• - Made over 5,000 applications to court
• - Made 250 applications to the High Court
• - Represented 12,000 clients at a tribunal
• - Won over £24 million arrears of benefit and compensation
• - Increased the income of its clients who are on benefit by over £40 million

Ms Baird will address the meeting on the Government’s vision for the Community Legal Service: one that places the client at its heart and focuses on the rights of individuals. She will talk about the role of legal advice and representation in advancing the fundamental rights of those who are most vulnerable, helping them make real improvements in their lives.

The Law Centre is at the heart of delivering this service.

Sue Bent, Director of the Law Centre, said: “We are delighted that Ms Baird is coming to address our meeting.

“We believe passionately in access to justice, and the importance of good quality legal advice and representation in fighting social exclusion and combating disadvantage.

“We continue to work closely with our partner agencies to ensure that people know their rights, and can seek our help when they have problems.”