Owen McCloskey to advise on social security legislation Law Centre NI's head of social security, Owen McCloskey, has been appointed to the UK government's Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC). Mr McCloskey, a practising solicitor specialising in…

Congratulations to @lawcentreni.org's Owen McCloskey, who has been appointed to the UK’s Social Security Advisory Committee.

Owen brings extensive experience of test case litigation across tribunals and the higher courts. His practical insights will help to inform better policymaking.

Ending Section 21 matters. But what replaces it matters just as much. Law Centres will be watching closely how new grounds for eviction affect private renters after 1st May. (2/2)

Landlords evicting tenants before law to prevent practice comes into force in England No-fault evictions made up one in three reports made to renters’ union Acorn in January

'The court won’t take into account the fairness of it.'

@ce-lawcentre.bsky.social's Hugh Wilkinson discussed the rise in no-fault evictions he is seeing ahead of Renters’ Rights Act changes. (1/2)

adJust Info Hub – Home - Suffolk Law Centre The SLC Digital Hub is your comprehensive, strengths-based resource dedicated to the long-term career success of neurodivergent people.

New careers resource for neurodivergent people. 👇

Suffolk Law Centre has launched the adJust Hub. Check out resources on:

💼 How to apply for a job
🪧 When and how to disclose your neurodivergence or disability
❓ How to ask for reasonable adjustments

Today is day one. There's everything still to prove. We'll be watching, working alongside, and speaking up to ensure #AccessToJustice is meaningful for everyone. (6/6)

New rights in law—and the Employment Rights Act has delivered many—are only meaningful if people can actually use them.

We want the Fair Work Agency to succeed—for the workers who've already waited long enough. (5/6)

Today, the government's answer to this problem, the Fair Work Agency, officially opens its doors.

We welcome it. The need is real and the intent is right.
But a new institution is only a promise until it has funding that matches the scale of the problem. (4/6)

This isn't a surprise to anyone working in employment advice.

Law Centre advisers support clients through tribunal. Sometimes when they win, nothing happens. The award exists on paper. The money doesn't arrive. (3/6)

One restaurant chain, more than 20 tribunal awards, reportedly none of them paid.

@mellino.bsky.social's investigation shows not just that it happened, but how the system allowed it. (2/6)

Meet the restaurant boss who flouted judges’ orders for years Jason Wells’ restaurant chain has cheated workers, lost 21 tribunal claims – and not paid a single one

Every year, workers go to tribunal, make their case, and win.

And then—nothing. The employer doesn't pay. There's no one coming to make them.

It's a justice system that stops working at the final step.

Today, @tbij.bsky.social published an investigation that puts a number on that failure. (1/6) 🧵

A photograph of Bob stood on the grounds of Epsom Downs Racecourse.

Motörhead, paintball and the Legal Walk…

Law Centres legend, Bob Nightingale MBE, has had a rich and remarkable career.

Check out his interview with @legalactiongroup.bsky.social. Happy retirement, Bob!

👉 www.lag.org.uk/article/2179...

📷 credit: Sue James.

Because #accesstojustice only works if it works in practice.

What comes next:

We’ll continue to work with regulators, government and partners to ensure this clarity is embedded in a way that supports high - quality, accessible legal services for all.

This is a moment to recognise the strength of the Law Centre model - and the people across the network who deliver it every day.

As PJ Kirby KC and James Hall said:
“...a result which helps LCN’s members to continue their vital work providing access to justice and also helps ensure diversity within the legal profession.”

We are deeply grateful to our legal team:
A&O Shearman, PJ Kirby KC and James Hall @gatehouse.bsky.social

Their pro bono support ensured the Court had a full picture of what’s at stake for access to justice.

This comes at a time when access to justice organisations are under real pressure - rising demand, constrained funding, increasing complexity.

Clarity like this is not abstract. It has real - world impact.

It gives us the confidence to continue delivering vital legal support at the moments people need it most.

And it helps ensure fewer people are left to face the justice system on their own.

For many, the alternative isn’t a different provider.
It’s no help at all.

This judgment recognises that reality - and why it matters.

Because this is how legal help is delivered in practice.

Every day, Law Centres support people facing eviction, loss of income, or discrimination - people who would otherwise be left to navigate the system alone.

The Court has confirmed something fundamental:
The Law Centre model of working - bringing together solicitors and highly skilled caseworkers under strong supervision - is lawful.

That clarity matters.

📢 A moment to celebrate!
It’s been a good week for Law Centres, for the people we serve, and for access to justice. ⚖️

Today’s judgment in #Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys brings important clarity.

Justice for unsafe homes: LCN responds to consultation on disrepair The Law Centres Network recently submitted evidence to the joint call for evidence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Ministry of Justice on housing disrepair claims and the role of claims management companies.

Everyone deserves to live in a decent home. Yet poor housing conditions are all too common.

The current regulation system for housing disrepair is not working effectively.

Learn what’s needed to protect dignity, health and justice for all. 👇

In depth: How interest on client account schemes work abroad The government's plans for an Interest on Lawyers' Client Account scheme are flawed - that was the consensus at a recent conference exploring how existing ILCAs operate internationally.

LCN supports an independently managed fund, free from government control, and one that is fully dedicated to access to justice and public good, in line with the international norm.

More in @monidipafouzder.bsky.social's write-up. 👇

(4/4)

The UK is late to the party. ILCA is a huge opportunity for #AccessToJustice, but the government’s current plans for the scheme are misdirected. (3/4)

Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts—or IOLTA as it is known abroad—is a well-established mechanism that has been in use since the 1960s, and is currently active in 70 jurisdictions worldwide. (2/4)

In depth: How interest on client account schemes work abroad The government's plans for an Interest on Lawyers' Client Account scheme are flawed - that was the consensus at a recent conference exploring how existing ILCAs operate internationally.

‘We have a real benefit of coming to this 60 years after everyone else. We can just pull out everyone else’s lessons and get it together.’

—LCN Director, Julie Bishop

The UK’s first ILCA Conference was recently hosted by The Access to Justice Foundation and @oxfordcsls.bsky.social. (1/4)

Happy birthday to us! 🎉

Today, we proudly celebrate 50 years of Central England Law Centre.

For five decades, we have stood alongside our communities and partners to ensure people understand their rights and have access to justice.

Home Affairs Committee examines risks to children from proposed reforms to settlement routes - Migrant & Refugee Children's Legal Unit MiCLU’s legal practice lead Anna Skehan was among witnesses recently providing evidence to the Home Affairs Committee about the impact that proposed changes to routes to settlement (permanent permissi...

Drawing on her work with children and young people, Anna explains how the changes would exacerbate trauma and deepen poverty. (2/2)

Home Affairs Committee Oral evidence: Routes to Settlement 3 YouTube video by MiCLU Islington

‘It feels like you have tied a sack of rocks to someone and they are trying to drag those rocks along with them for a decade.’

@micluteam.bsky.social's Anna Skehan recently gave evidence to the Home Affairs Committee on the government’s proposed changes to settlement. (1/2)