It was a fantastic sunny day on Monday 25 April for 65 members of the legal profession who embarked on a 10 km challenge and raised funds to support access to justice in Preston. The route took in the lovely sights the city has to offer, including the less well known parts of the city, and the weather was light and breezy, a perfect spring day to walk and raise money for a vital cause.
 
We had a grand total of 4 teams signed up with the biggest team on the day coming from University of Central Lancashire Law School!
 
A big congratulations goes out to Harrison Drury, who topped the fundraising table having raised under £600! This is a huge achievement and we are very grateful to our team who pulled out all the stops to raise as much money as possible to support access to justice.
 
We walk to raise money for charities, such as the PSU which has recently started a branch in Preston, which are often the last resort for people facing difficult and distressing legal circumstances and find themselves unable to pay for private legal advice. The funds raised by the Preston Legal Walk, and the NWLST as a whole, will go to support these charities and more, throughout the region helping thousands of people every year navigate the complicated legal system.

This event was supported by our generous sponsor, the University of Central Lancashire, who sponsored the welcoming finish line reception. It was a perfect end to a great walk and the drinks were very well received by our thirsty walkers. 

The Preston Legal Walk was the first of its kind, raising over £1,080 so far. This is an excellent result for the first year, and we strive to beat this next year. Without your contribution the Preston Legal Walk and the work of the NWLST would not be possible.
 
Please continue to fundraise and ensure that we can help more vital services than ever before.

It was a fantastic sunny day on Monday 16 May for 51 members of the legal profession who embarked on a 10 km challenge and raised funds to support access to justice in Carlisle. The route took in the lovely sights the city has to offer, including the less well known parts of the city, and the weather was bright and sunny, a perfect spring day to walk and raise money for a vital cause.
 
We had a grand total of 9 teams signed up with the biggest teams on the day coming from Paramount Legal Costs and Cumbria Law Centre!

A big congratulations goes out to Cumbria Law Centre, who topped the fundraising table having raised over £765! This is a huge achievement and we are very grateful to our team who pulled out all the stops to raise as much money as possible to support access to justice.
 
We were joined by three charities, Carlisle Foodbank, Citizens Advice Carlisle & Eden, and Cumbria Law Centre. These charities are often the last resort for people facing difficult and distressing legal circumstances and find themselves unable to pay for private legal advice. The funds raised by the Carlisle Legal Walk, and the NWLST as a whole, will go to support these charities and more, throughout the region helping thousands of people every year navigate the complicated legal system.
 
This event was supported by our generous sponsors, Paramount Legal Costs, sponsored the welcoming finish line reception. It was a perfect end to a great walk and the drinks were very well received by our thirsty walkers.
 
The walk has broken all previous records, raising over £1,644 so far. Without your contribution the Carlisle Legal Walk and the work of the NWLST would not be possible.
 
Please continue to fundraise and ensure that we can help more vital services than ever before.

​On Monday 25 April, just over 60 lawyers, advisors and other legal professionals joined forces for a sponsored walk around the riverfront sights of Preston to raise over £1,000 to support free legal advice in Preston and throughout the North West.
 
Under the banner ‘Supporting access to justice in the North West’ 4 teams of walkers from law firms, barristers' chambers as well as the voluntary and advice sector came together to raise funds for the North West Legal Support Trust (NWLST) and other local free legal advice charities. Walkers were joined by Rachel Stevens, a trustee of the North West Legal Support trust.
 
The 10km route took in the lovely river sights the city had to offer, with many walkers remarking they saw a side to the city they hadn’t seen before. The weather was bright and breezy; a perfect spring day to stride out and raise money for a vital cause.
 
Walkers taking part fundraised for the cause by seeking sponsorship and were welcomed with a drink at the finishing line reception, at the Scholar’s Restaurant, gratefully received by thirsty walkers.
 
Alongside some well-deserved refreshments walkers were welcomed back by the lead walkers who spoke about the growing importance of continuing free legal advice and support for the free legal advice sector and individuals who rely on their services.
 
The event is run by the North West Legal Support Trust (NWLST). The NWLST was formed in 2010 to raise and distribute funds to support the provision of free legal advice in Preston and throughout the North West 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, to facilitate the 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.
 
The Preston Personal Support Unit (PSU) is a local charity which provides a range of free legal advice and support in and around Preston to some of the city’s most vulnerable citizens who often seek their services as a desperate last resort.
 
Cuts to legal aid and local government funding of advice services means charities such as these are fighting to survive. Some organisations have merged, meaning already tight resources are being stretched over greater distances, but more frequently, others have ceased to provide services altogether.
 
A representative from the NWLST said “We are truly delighted that the Preston Legal Walk has had a fantastic first year with people coming out to support access to justice for the most vulnerable and more funds being raised to support the vital services when help these people in their time of need. Thanks to all our walkers, supporters and sponsors the NWLST will be able to make more and larger grants than ever before, ensuring local services benefit from local support.”

It is time to lace up those walking shoes as the Carlisle Legal Walk is fast approaching. If you would like to take part, there is still time for you to join us by registering here.

We currently have 9 teams signed up and a total of 46 walkers, with our biggest teams coming from Cumbria Law Centre and Paramount Legal Costs Ltd, all raising vital funds to support access to advice for all. 

Top of the fundraising table is the wonderful Cumbria Law Centre team who have so far raised a fantastic £375! This is a fantastic achievement and a hugely important part of making this year's Carlisle Legal Walk bigger and better than ever before. 

So far, the walk has raised just under £800 altogether. This is a great start but we still need everyone to continue fundraising as much as possible to support local advice charities. 

The charities supported by the Carlisle Legal Walk help thousands of people every year gain proper access to justice. These charities are often the last resort for people facing difficult and distressing legal circumstances but without resources to pay for private legal advice. Without this charitable work, many vulnerable people would be left alone to navigate the court and justice system without any advice or support. 

We're proud to have several charities walking with us on Monday the 16th, Cumbria Law Centre, Citizens Advice Carlisle & Eden, and Carlisle Foodbank. Please help us to continue to support the vital work they do in the local community by raising as much as you can in the Carlisle Legal Walk. 

It looks set to be a fantastic evening. A reminder that event registration on the day is open from 5 pm with the walk starting at 5:30 pm. A celebratory drink will be waiting for you at the finish line. 

A big thank you to our wonderful sponsors Paramount Legal Costs Ltd who are supporting and promoting our event. As we need sponsorship in order to be able to continue running our legal walk events, their support is invaluable and key to continuing the work of the North West Legal Support Trust.

We are very excited to see all of you on Monday 16 May. The event would not be possible without your contribution.

It is time to lace up those walking shoes and starting to stretch those legs as the Preston Legal Walk is almost upon us! There's still time for you to join: register here. 

We currently have 5 teams signed up and a total of 64 walkers, with our biggest teams coming from Harrison Drury - Preston and University of Central Lancashire Law School, all raising vital funds to support access to advice for all.

Top of the fundraising table is the wonderful UCLAN Law School team who have so far raised a fantastic £250! This is a fantastic achievement and a hugely important part of making this year’s Preston Legal Walk bigger and better than ever before.

So far the Walk has raised just almost £500 altogether. This is a great start but we still need everyone to continue fundraising as much as possible to support local advice charities.

The charities supported by the Preston Legal Walk help thousands of people every year gain proper access to justice. These charities are often the last resort for people facing difficult and distressing legal circumstances but without the resources to pay for private legal advice. Without this charitable work many vulnerable people would be left alone to navigate the court and justice system without any advice or support.

Please help us to continue to support the vital work that charities and advice services provide in the local community by raising as much as you can at the Preston Legal Walk.

It looks set to be a fantastic evening and it will be topped off with a celebratory drink and a chance to celebrate your fundraising efforts..

A big thank you also The Law Society for helping make this event possible and The Access to Justice Foundation for their support.

We need your sponsorship in order to be able to continue running our legal walk events their support is invaluable and key to continuing the work of the Midlands Legal Support Trust. 

Triage Caseworker
F/T: 35 hours per week
6 weeks’ holiday
Salary £16,000 to £20,000 dependant on experience

Inspiring work, wonderful location, attractive terms.

This is a central role at Cumbria Law Centre. The Triage Caseworker is the first point of contact for new clients. The role involves conducting client interviews, quickly assessing their needs, calculating Legal Aid eligibility and making appropriate referrals.

This role would suit an outgoing and friendly individual with experience of working in an advice organisation or in a triage role. Knowledge of social welfare law is desirable, although full training will be given.

You will have excellent communication skills, the ability to deal with pressure and manage a busy workload.

Applications by Friday 15th April 2016
Application pack by telephone on 01228 515129,
via email on [email protected]
or via their website www.cumbrialawcentre.org.uk

​We are really excited about the Carlisle legal walk coming up in just 5 short weeks on May 16. We already have 4 teams signed up and ready to walk and raise funds to support access to advice for all. We are proud to have Timothy Cartmell, Under Sheriff of Cumbria and Rev Richard Lee, High Sheriff of Cumbria as our lead walkers.
 
The North West Legal Support Trust has been established to support the provision of free legal advice in Carlisle and the North West region since 2010 and the Carlisle legal walk is an important part of our fundraising activities. The organisations we support make a huge difference in the lives of many people. The recent cuts to legal aid and the reduced household income for many working families due to the recession have increased the importance of free access to specialist legal advice for the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community.
 
Registration for the event will open from 5pm. The Walk will start at 5:30. About two hours later walkers cross the finish line where refreshments will be gratefully received by thirsty walkers.
 
Alongside the support from our wonderful walkers the Carlisle Legal Walk is sponsored by Paramount Legal Costs Limited. The firm based in the North West is showing its extended support of the profession by sponsoring local advice charities and access to justice.
 
We would like to get as many people involved as possible, so gather your co-workers, friends, family, and why not dogs, to join us for an evening of walking and having fun while raising vital funds for legal advice agencies!

The Preston Legal Walk cannot come fast enough and as the days speed by the number of walkers continues to grow! We now have 5 teams and over 60 walkers committed to walking, running and sweating to support local advice agencies in their mission to ensure access to justice for all.

So far University of Central Lancashire Law School is leading in numbers with a whopping 33 walkers, if each of their team members raised £15 they would beat their fundraising target of £500 so please do sponsor them.

University of Central Lancashire Law School must be following our fundraising tips to the letter! They have already raised £70, we hope you can continue to keep it rising! We’re hoping for some fierce competition for our top fundraiser spot!

This is the first Preston Legal Walk and we hope to make it an annual event in conjunction with local advice services such as the Preston PSU to support their vital work. Without your support we couldn’t make the Preston Legal Walk the fantastic success we know it’s going to be this year.

We are expecting nice spring weather on Monday 25 April to keep our walkers fresh for their 10km challenge. And to celebrate the finish line is a complementary drink!

We’re very excited to see you all there!

We are really excited about the Preston legal walk coming up in just 4 short weeks on April 18. We already have 2 teams signed up and ready to walk and raise funds to support access to advice for all. So far the Lancashire Law School has the biggest team, walking in aid of the Preston Personal Support Unit which has just been set up with the help of the University.

Join them and show your support of access to justice!

The North West Legal Support Trust has been established to support the provision of free legal advice in Preston and the North West region since 2010 and the Preston legal walk is an important part of our fundraising activities. The organisations we support make a huge difference in the lives of many people. The recent cuts to legal aid and the reduced household income for many working families due to the recession have increased the importance of free access to specialist legal advice for the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community.

Despite the cuts to legal aid the legal profession has always championed access to justice for all and the Preston Legal Walk is evidence of that. This enjoyable event celebrates the continued work of the advice sector in protecting people’s rights and ensuring access to justice for all.
​
Registration for the event will open from 5pm. The Walk will start at 5:30. About two hours later walkers cross the finish line where refreshments will be provided by the Lancashire Law School to our thirsty walkers.

We would like to get as many people involved as possible, so gather your co-workers, friends, family, and why not dogs, to join us for an evening of walking and having fun while raising vital funds for legal advice agencies!

The local legal profession and advice sector are joining forces on Monday 25 April to take part in the Preston Legal Walk and again on Monday 16 May 2016 to take part in the Carlisle Legal Walk.
 
These Legal Walks are two of over 30 similar events which run across England and Wales. The after work sponsored walks raise funds for local free legal advice charities in Preston, Carlisle and beyond, throughout the North West. Teams from local law firms, chambers and in-house legal teams are expected to come together along with local judges to support local advice services such as Citizens Advice Bureau and Law Centres.
 
Both events are run by the North West Legal Support Trust (NWLST). The NWLST was formed in 2010 to raise and distribute funds to support the provision of free legal advice in Preston, Carlisle and the North West 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, to facilitate the access to specialist legal advice for the poorest and most vulnerable people in the community.
 
The organisations supported by the Preston and Carlisle Legal Walks 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. Advice services, such as Law Centres and Citizens Advice Bureau, are struggling to provide free legal services on issues of housing and employment, meaning individuals seeking help and support will either have to pay for advice or do the work themselves without any specialist help.
Meanwhile, the economic downturn has meant thousands more individuals and families are now unable to afford advice and turning to free legal advice agencies for help.
 
The additional cuts to local government funding of advice services means these charities are fighting to survive. Some organisations have merged, meaning already tight resources are being stretched over greater distances but, more frequently, others have ceased to provide services altogether. Since the cuts have come into force the number of Law Centres has decreased by 20%, meaning there are currently only 43 Law Centres covering the country. One of them is the Law Centre in Carlisle and even though its work is vital, the charity is fighting for funds. The closest Law Centre to Preston is now based in Bury.
 
On April 25 and May 16 lawyers from across the area will be walking to show their support for the advice sector.
Despite the cuts to legal aid forcing the closure of many law firms the legal profession has always championed access to justice for all.
 
The Preston and Carlisle Legal Walks are an enjoyable event which celebrates the continued work of the legal profession and advice sector in protecting people’s rights and prompting equal access to justice for all.