Hull Community Legal Advice Centre

Business is brisk at Hull's new legal services centre

09 Dec 2008

Hull's new Community Legal Advice centre (CLAC) was officially opened today (9 December) at Essex House on Alfred Gelder Street

The CLAC operates as an integrated service, pooling knowledge and expertise between Hull City Council, the Legal Services Commission, A4e and Howells Solicitors. The service itself is customer focused, offering professional advice and support on problems as diverse as welfare benefits and tax credits, debt, employment, housing, community care, family law and immigration.

Cllr Minns said:  “The CLAC’s common sense, co-ordinated “one-stop-shop” approach gives access to social justice for all our residents, especially those who are vulnerable and socially excluded.  It will play a major role in helping people protect their legal rights and improve their lives and, as such, will be an asset to the city’s services.”

Peter Nelson, Regional Director (North) of the Legal Services Commission said: “The number of people seeking legal advice in Hull is increasing year on year, and we are committed to meeting that demand.

“People lead complex lives with one problem often leading to another. So we’re taking a joined-up approach to tackle connected problems aiming for one point of access in communities. More telephone advice plus easy-access community legal advice centres and networks in the heart of communities are part of our of legal aid reform programme.”

The formal launch comes seven weeks after the CLAC opened its doors to the public, and already business is brisk with the 1,000 cases on its books already exceeding initial projections. The most common problems currently being dealt with by the CLAC relate to housing and debt.

Early in 2009 the CLAC will be extending its services into local neighbourhoods with regular outreach sessions.  To ensure ease of access, and help people overcome barriers to finding the assistance they need, the range of services, venues and times for the outreach sessions are being decided in consultation with the local community.