Record-breaking walks fundraise for free legal advice
Profession
The legal profession took to its feet to raise money for free legal advice providers on 20 May. Sponsored legal walks took place in London, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Guildford, Newbury and Norwich, and will be followed by walks in other towns.
The London Legal Walk was a record breaking event, with 7,500 people taking part. The lead walkers, the Lord Chief Justice, the President of the Supreme Court, the Master of the Rolls, the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions, were joined by GB Olympic champion Katherine Grainger CBE, who recently completed her PhD in Homicide at King’s College London (see photo). The 480 teams together raised over half a million pounds for charities providing free legal advice in London and the South East. The Bar was well represented, with 89 chambers teams (including 110 QCs), Inner Temple, Lincoln’s Inn and the Bar Council.
Bob Nightingale, Chief Executive of the London Legal Support Trust, praised the walkers and the tens of thousands who had donated: “Obviously we can’t overcome the vast reduction in funding for advice centres that has occurred in recent years simply through fundraising. However, what we can do and have done is to ensure that thousands of the most vulnerable people in and around London will gain vital help that they would otherwise have been denied,” he said.
In Birmingham, the sixth annual walk saw over 200 people from 34 organisations across the Midlands legal community taking part. Mr Justice Flaux led the walkers, starting from St Philips Chambers in the heart of the city centre. As well as barristers from St Philips Chambers, a large team from No 5 chambers in Birmingham took part. “As ever, the walk proved to be a very enjoyable evening, an opportunity to network and see the city but most importantly to raise funds for free legal advice agencies who need our help now more than ever to keep their doors open,” said Julia Jones, a trustee of the Midland Legal Support Trust.
Legal walks also took place in June in Cambridge, Brighton and Nottingham. Upcoming walks are Eastbourne (15 July), Hastings (9 September), Carlisle (12 September), Liverpool (19 September) and Manchester (26 September). For information go to: www.accesstojusticefoundation.org.uk.
