Legal Aid Minister visits leading Colchester Law Firm

A Colchester law firm has received a visit from a leading Government minister in recognition of its wide range of innovative legal support services for disadvantaged groups and also for its work within the local community.

Lord Hunt, the minister responsible for legal aid at the Ministry of Justice recently visited the town centre offices of Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP at Norfolk House, Southway, Colchester. The firm offers the widest spread of publicly funded legal services in the eastern region. It also has specialist quality marks from the Legal Services Commission in eight different areas of law including employment, education, housing, community care, public law, welfare benefits, family and criminal law, and operates a family mediation scheme under the legal aid scheme.

Senior Partner Tony Fisher said: “It is obviously a great honour for us to have been singled out for a visit by Lord Hunt, who has shown great interest in the services which we provide. Whilst many legal firms have pulled out of legal aid we have continued to develop new and innovative services, and shown a commitment to vulnerable client groups which we are proud of. It was also a great opportunity for some of our dedicated staff to express concerns to the minister with regard to recent reforms. In some areas “advice deserts” have been created where much needed expertise is no longer available.”

In 2007, Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP won two awards for its Tendring Outreach service including a prestigious national award for “Legal Aid Lawyers of the Year”. The service offers specialist legal advice on social welfare law as well as training to voluntary workers to raise awareness of the legal rights of their clients. The firm has also been shortlisted this year for a Business in the Community Leadership Award for the services it provides to children and young people in the care system.

 Lord Hunt was accompanied on his visit by Tina Fahm, Legal Services Commissioner with special responsibility for the Eastern Region, and Sue Sayer from the Legal Services Commission’s Cambridge office.

[Photographed from left to right - Lord Hunt Legal Aid Minister, Tina Fahm Legal Services Commissioner, Sue Sayer Legal Services Commission Account Manager and Tony Fisher Senior Partner at Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP.]