North East Legal Walk
Earlier this month staff and students from Northumbria Law School joined local solicitors, barristers and Judges to take part in the second North East Legal Walk. |
The teams, led by HHJ Moir from Newcastle Combined Court, walked along the Newcastle Gateshead Quayside to raise money for the North East Legal Support Trust.
The North East Legal Support Trust is a charity set up to raise funds for voluntary legal advice agencies across the region. Together with colleagues in Leeds, the School helped to raise over £9,000 for the charity. In Newcastle, beneficiaries have included the Newcastle Law Centre and Justice for Children, Kenya.
The highly enjoyable evening commenced with a complimentary drink courtesy of Charlie’s Champagne Bar before setting off along the Quayside. The walk brought together all areas of the profession for an excellent cause, with the Northumbria team winning the prize for the largest team participating. The walkers headed off west from the Courts along the Quayside, taking in local landmarks such as the Quayside Bridges, the Sage, Baltic and finishing at Charlie’s Champagne Bar for a well deserved drink.
The money raised will be used to support voluntary and not for profit legal advice charities based in the North East. Examples of how Legal Trust money has been used throughout the country include the Carmarthen Citizens Advice Bureau in Wales – A grant towards a Training Administration post to strengthen their existing service, the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit – A grant towards a project that will support the co-ordination of immigration advice and St. Hilda’s East Community Centre in London – A grant towards a Bi-Lingual Triage receptionist at the centre’s legal advice sites.
Lawyers have a strong and worthy tradition of supporting pro bono initiatives to help the less well-off members of society. The walk is one of a number of fundraising events across the country organised by Regional Legal Support Trusts, raising funds for the voluntary legal sector and is a vital cog in the provision of legal services and one that reaches parts and people that private practice, often for financial reasons, cannot get to.
For more information please visit:
www.accesstojusticefoundation.org.uk/regional-trusts/northeast
Date posted: May 27, 2010
