The Legal Walk is an annual fundraising event run by the London Legal Support Trust. Teams drawn from firms of solicitors, barrister’s chambers, and the third sector walk and run a 10km route around Central London to raise money, but also awareness of the crisis engulfing the legal aid sector.
The Trust provides funding for legal advice centres and helps to mitigate some of the cuts made to legal aid funding over the last few decades. Between 2000 and 2021, the number of legally aided cases in England and Wales dropped 85% due to wholesale cuts to funding and changes to eligibility for support. As a result, a majority of firms that previously offered legally aided work have ceased to do so. This has placed a huge amount of pressure on the advice sector, at the same time as many advice agencies have seen core funding from local authorities slashed.
A team of 14 people represented the Centre for Access to Justice, with students, teachers, support staff, and advisers from the Centre’s Integrated Legal Advice Clinic taking part. Setting off from the Royal Courts of Justice, the team traipsed round the South Bank, the City and Holborn in the October damp and drizzle, raising a grand total of £1,376.50 for the cause.
There is still time to contribute. Any donations can be made at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/UCLAccesstoJustice21