There’s less than one week until the 10km London Legal Walk through central London. The legal profession is really turning up, with almost 1000 organisations registered and 16,000 walkers ready to walk! Teams are also busy fundraising in support of access to justice for all, and the hope is to smash the £1 million mark for the first time!
On 13 June, the Lord Chancellor will also be joining the Walk, alongside the Lord Chief Justice, the president of the Law Society, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Treasury Solicitor and Permanent Secretary to the Government Legal Department. These lead walkers will lead thousands of legal professionals on the 10km fundraising walk. This event is even more vital this year in the face of an increasing need for advice, and the legal profession is standing up for people and putting the steps in to enact real change.
Susann McGibbon Treasury Solicitor and Permanent Secretary to the Government Legal Department, and one of the lead walkers says: “The London Legal Walk supports the vital work of the charities and advice agencies that provide crucial legal support to those in need. I am thrilled to be a lead walker and offer my support, it’s a great way to catch up with colleagues from across the legal sector whilst supporting a common cause.”
The Walk is a way to combat worrying stats, such as those included in the Royal London cost of living research (April 2023), highlighting the following areas of concern:
- The average bills for UK households with children and pets have jumped by almost £500 per month
- People without children or pets have seen their outgoings soar by £427 a month, including housing and energy costs
- The average household’s rent or mortgage payments had jumped by £208 a month while energy bills had shot up by £141 a month
- Around a third (31%) of UK adults said they were either overdrawn on their accounts at the end of the month or had to borrow money to make ends meet; while one in five said they were either “in financial crisis” or close to it.
The work of advice agencies in helping people falling into difficult times is both essential and challenging. When people are unable to provide for themselves and their families, things can deteriorate quickly. There is now an increased need for advice and support in many areas, with many clients often needing assistance with several and/or complex issues. These include homelessness, housing issues, debt and money management, workplace discrimination and mental health issues. There’s not one type of person who needs free specialist legal advice, and there’s not one type of solution.
The London Legal Walk is in its 19th year and has become a mainstay in the legal calendar. The day creates immense goodwill, fellowship and boosts advice agencies working on the front line.
Law Society of England and Wales President Lubna Shuja says: “I am thrilled to be taking part in the London Legal Walk on 13 June with many others from the legal profession to help raise funds for free legal advice charities. The legal help these charities provide to those in need is more important than ever given the cost-of-living crisis. I encourage everyone who can to join the walk and help raise as much money as possible for access to justice.”
The countdown begins for June 13th! Remember, if you can’t attend the Walk itself, you can also make a donation in support of the fundraising efforts of others. Just head over to the London Legal Support Trust site or if you know a team taking part, you can donate via their fundraising page.
Who joins the Walk?
The Walk attracts a range of people, from advice agency staff, to lawyers, to law students, to high-ranking judiciary. On the Walk, everyone walks side by side and the fellowship of the event is unmatched.
Where do the funds go?
With the rising cost-of-living and funding cuts, the funds raised by the Walk will be even more vital for securing the future of free legal advice agencies and the communities they serve. Many people are facing serious issues and are in desperate need of free specialist legal advice. Debt, homelessness, unemployment and domestic violence are all contributing to the hardship faced by many. We know accessing justice makes a difference to people’s lives – for example, LLST’s 38 Centres of Excellence alone helped 187,101 people last year.
