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London's streets paved with gold for legal charity walkers
City lawyers turned out in force on 18th April 2005 to raise funds for London’s voluntary legal agencies including Law Centres and advice agencies.
Led by the two of Britain’s most senior judges, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf; and the Master of the Rolls, the Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, over 200 City lawyers joined 100 voluntary sector lawyers and caseworkers to walk 10 km around London’s legal landmarks.
The walk contained some real legal heavyweights including Law Lords and City firm senior partners and raised over £25,000 for the charities.
The walk was organised by the London Legal Support Trust which was established last year to organise and target City lawyer funding for London’s legal charities.
Lord Phillips said “The need for social welfare legal advice and casework in London is enormous. The charities supported tonight do an excellent job in meeting that need. I commend all those City law firms and individual lawyers who supported the walk and I commend the Trust on harnessing the huge amount of support for legal charities that exists in the City”.
Trust Chairman, Bob Nightingale welcomed the large turnout saying: “This was our first event and the support far exceeded our expectations. We are also impressed at the seniority of many of the walkers. We are very grateful to all those who helped to organise the event and all those who participated. After the recent increases in professional help provided by the firms through partnerships with Law Centres and advice agencies, this further demonstrates that City lawyers are willing and able to provide financial as well as practical support to their colleagues in the voluntary sector.
“The money raised will be going straight to people in the legal advice frontline, helping those in greatest need with serious legal problems such as homelessness, debt or unpaid benefits.”
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