Evidence submitted by Benedict Keane,
Chair, Norwich and District Legal Services, and Vice Chair, Norfolk
Law Centre Steering Group
Would you please note that this letter is written
by me in my capacity as Chair of Norwich and District Legal Services
Limited (Charity Number 1069066/Company Registration Number 3524607)
(NDLS) and as Vice Chair of Norfolk Law Centre Steering Group
(NLCSG).
1. NDLS was set up in 1987 with a view to
addressing unmet legal needs within Norwich and the surrounding
district. Since such date it has operated from the Advice Arcade
at Guildhall Hill Norwich.
2. Over the last 17 years or so NDLS has
provided various services free of charge. At present the Company
operates a mortgage repossession advice scheme, conducts surgeries
through local solicitors on a twice-weekly basis and, in partnership
with the IAS, provides immigration and asylum advice.
3. The unmet legal need in Norwich is considerable.
Over the course of the last 10 years the majority of local solicitors
have ceased to have any general or specialist legal aid practice.
The NDLS solicitors Free Legal Advice Service saw 1,074 clients
in the year 2002-03. This number was on a par with previous years—1,151
in 2001-02 and 1,068 in 2000-01. Most sessions are fully subscribed
with each legal advisor assisting up to eight clients per session.
4. Arising out of the dearth of specialist
legal aid advice some two years or so ago discussions were entered
into with the Law Centres Federation with a view to the creation
of a law centre. A steering group has been formed consisting of
members of various different agencies eg Shelter, Age Concern,
Norfolk and Norwich Race Equality Council and the CAB. All these
agencies stress the need and requirement for advice to be given
at all levels, whether first or second tier.
5. It is hoped that over the course of the
next 18 months or so a law centre will be created. It may well
be that NDLS will be subsumed into the new centre. At present,
contact with the steering group is not only at it's own meetings
but also through the CLS Partnerships.
The above is merely an outline of the position
in Norfolk. There is a strong requirement for specialist legal
aid advice. This is not currently being given. The purpose of
this letter is to outline to the Committee confirmation that the
issue needs to be, and will, hopefully be addressed. Obviously,
I would be more than happy to provide any evidence or further
submissions that the Committee requires.
Benedict Keane
January 2004
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