My Story

This is a project that I am very passionate about. I personally have volunteered with other local legal charities (the Personal Support Unit) over the past year and I have seen first hand how lost people feel when encountering the legal system. I want to add clarity to the legal process by creating a local resource that the community can depend on to offer free direction and advice.

What the Clinic will do

The Clinic will host free 30 minute legal advice appointments (primarily within Family cases, however other specialist solicitors may be available). The Clinic will open on a fortnightly basis from 10am to 1.30pm.

The service will operate by appointment only. Clients will be able to book an appointment by either phoning the Coordinator directly via email or phone, or filling out an online submission form on the Chelmsford Law Clinic website.

In the future I hope to expand the free service to include other areas of law (such as immigration and debt), however this is contingent on establishing the demand for the free legal advice service.

The Chelmsford Law Clinic will be the first free legal advice clinic in Chelmsford and will be open to anyone living in Chelmsford and the surrounding areas.

Current development and launch

At the moment, I have organised agreements with local solicitors, a website, a comprehensive administrative/feedback process as well as premises within the Chelmsford Civic Centre

The Chelmsford Law Clinic is also a registered LawWorks clinic.

The Clinic will be launching on Thursday 14th September

How funding will help the Clinic

Already I have been contacted by a significant number of clients looking to book an appointment.

I am currently applying for funding from legal trusts, but I am hoping that a JustGiving campaign will provide the minimum needed for the Clinic to run so that I can launch the Clinic earlier and start helping the local community.

The fundraising raised here will go towards printing/office related costs as well as towards maintaining the website and email servers that the Clinic will use to take appointments.

In addition, I also hope to use the funding to print leaflets that I can distribute around the Chelmsford city center.

Website: www.chelmsfordlawclinic.org.uk