The GMLC grew out of a protest against cuts to services offering free legal advice and representation. In recent years the right to legal aid has been subject to permanent assault by successive governments. As a result people have been left without advice and support when they need it most, putting them at the risk of poverty, homelessness and unemployment. On this page you can find out all the latest news from the struggle to restore legal aid.
A month ago we promised to demand that the political parties headed to the General Election commit themselves to ensuring free access to justice for all those who have become victims of homelessness, racism and the hostile environment which operates against migrants and claimants. We contacted Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn, Jo Swinson and Caroline Lucas.…
Greater Manchester Law Centre’s Housing solicitor, Kathy Cosgrove, spoke to Manchester Confidential about the Council’s proposed PSPO being discriminatory, inhumane and potentially unlawful. AFTER nearly a year, Manchester City Council finally looks ready to make a decision about its proposed ‘public space protection order’ (PSPO). PSPOs give local authorities power to prohibit certain behaviours…
The below is a statement from Bolton Trades Council following the fire than engulfed the Cube. That this has happened following the Grenfell Tower tragedy is simply unacceptable. We must fight for safe and secure housing and we at Greater Manchester Law Centre fully support the points made by Bolton Trades Council. The fire at the…
The government has placed the builder that oversaw the disastrous refurbishment of Grenfell Tower on an official list of firms recommended to build high-rise housing, a move that has sparked fury among survivors. Rydon was the main contractor on the recladding which spread the fatal blaze that claimed 72 lives in 2017. The decision less…
We have been working with journalist Ruth F Hunt to shed light on the lack of legal aid in austerity Britain. We thank Ruth for this important work and for recent coverage in the Morning Star – see the full article here. Excerpts of the article are summarised and re-posted here with permission. Legal aid is…
Young Legal Aid Lawyers and the All Parliamentary Group on Legal Aid’s joint campaign #TakeYourMPToWork has seen MP’s across the country get up close and personal with the reality of legal aid provision. Last week Kate Green, MP for Stretford and Urmston spent the day with GMLC learning about the effect of legal aid cuts in…
Legal Aid has been in the spotlight. Headlines have lamented the closure of half of all law centres and not-for-profit legal advice services and lawyers, politicians, community groups and campaigners have reflected on the 70-year anniversary of the introduction of legal aid. The devastating news broke that Lambeth Law Centre is closing after several decades…
By Brocho Nemetsky Brocho is a volunteer at the GMLC. She is interested in learning about our rights, and helping others to do the same. She works as a paralegal at Brian Barr Solicitors, and hopes to work as a Barrister. On 5 November 2018, Philip Alston, the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty…
In April 2019, we released our manifesto, declaring that we will not allow legal aid cuts to be the death of the social welfare lawyer. We said: “We strive to be a home for passionate law students, advisers, activists and social welfare lawyers committed to using the law to fight for social justice.” Legal education…
Victims of unlawful discrimination are increasingly being prevented from enforcing their rights because of cuts to legal aid, according to an inquiry by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). The report released this week laid bare the chronic lack of advice and representation, as it emerged that between 2013 and 2018 fewer than…