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Law centre secures crime contract to support vulnerable clients
From the Law Society Gazette:
A London law centre will be able to provide greater support to vulnerable clients after taking the unusual step of bidding for a criminal legal aid contract.
Director Pamela Fitzpatrick told the Gazette that Harrow Law Centre, which was set up in 2010, has grown in civil areas such as housing, immigration and welfare benefits. But over the years, the centre has noticed an increasing number of clients who are victims of crime or at risk of being wrongly criminalised ...
Previously, the centre would send clients to law firms doing criminal legal aid – which has become increasingly difficult as the number of providers shrinks. Once its crime contract begins next month, the centre will be able to support clients with ‘poverty-related criminal law matters’.